HydrOThermal Mercury - the natural story of a contaminant – HOT_Hg
The UNEP Minamata Convention aims to reduce human exposure to toxic mercury (Hg). It is believed that anthropogenic Hg emissions have increased surface ocean Hg levels 3-fold since pre-industrial times. The estimated Hg increase requires a thorough understanding of both the anthropogenic and the natural Hg fluxes. Hydrothermal Hg flux is potentially the single most important natural Hg flux, yet flux estimates range several orders of magnitude. We propose to investigate Hg fluxes, speciation and transformation at 5 selected shallow and 3 deep hydrothermal vent systems to provide better constraints on the global Hg cycle and to study the incorporation and potential toxic effects on the ecosystem locally. A better understanding of hydrothermal Hg flux and microbial production of neurotoxic methylmercury is important to quantify the human impact on Hg cycling and exposure. The ANR HOT Mercury proposal is a direct reply to the request of the UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2018.
Project coordination
Lars-Eric HEIMBURGER (Institut Méditerranéen d'océanologie)
The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.
Partner
SEBIO Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques - UMR I-02 SEBIO
LEMAR LABORATOIRE DES SCIENCES DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT MARIN
MIO Institut Méditerranéen d'océanologie
IPREM INSTITUT DES SCIENCES ANALYTIQUES ET DE PHYSICO-CHIMIE POUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT ET LES MATERIAUX
LEGOS Laboratoire d'études en géophysique et océanographie spatiales
LOV Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche
Help of the ANR 642,642 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project:
February 2022
- 48 Months
