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Amazon forests capture high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining

Author

Listed:
  • Jacqueline R. Gerson

    (Duke University
    Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University)

  • Natalie Szponar

    (University of Toronto)

  • Angelica Almeyda Zambrano

    (School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida)

  • Bridget Bergquist

    (University of Toronto)

  • Eben Broadbent

    (School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida)

  • Charles T. Driscoll

    (Syracuse University)

  • Gideon Erkenswick

    (Washington University School of Medicine
    Field Projects International)

  • David C. Evers

    (Biodiversity Research Institute)

  • Luis E. Fernandez

    (Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA)
    Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES), Wake Forest University
    Wake Forest University)

  • Heileen Hsu-Kim

    (Duke University)

  • Giancarlo Inga

    (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)

  • Kelsey N. Lansdale

    (Environmental Science Program, Duke University)

  • Melissa J. Marchese

    (Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University
    Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University)

  • Ari Martinez

    (California State University)

  • Caroline Moore

    (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)

  • William K. Pan

    (Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University
    Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University)

  • Raúl Pérez Purizaca

    (Universidad Nacional de Piura)

  • Victor Sánchez

    (Instituto de Investigación en Ecología y Conservación (IIECOO))

  • Miles Silman

    (Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA)
    Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES), Wake Forest University
    Wake Forest University)

  • Emily A. Ury

    (Duke University)

  • Claudia Vega

    (Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA)
    Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES), Wake Forest University
    Wake Forest University)

  • Mrinalini Watsa

    (Field Projects International
    San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)

  • Emily S. Bernhardt

    (Duke University)

Abstract

Mercury emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining throughout the Global South exceed coal combustion as the largest global source of mercury. We examined mercury deposition and storage in an area of the Peruvian Amazon heavily impacted by artisanal gold mining. Intact forests in the Peruvian Amazon near gold mining receive extremely high inputs of mercury and experience elevated total mercury and methylmercury in the atmosphere, canopy foliage, and soils. Here we show for the first time that an intact forest canopy near artisanal gold mining intercepts large amounts of particulate and gaseous mercury, at a rate proportional with total leaf area. We document substantial mercury accumulation in soils, biomass, and resident songbirds in some of the Amazon’s most protected and biodiverse areas, raising important questions about how mercury pollution may constrain modern and future conservation efforts in these tropical ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqueline R. Gerson & Natalie Szponar & Angelica Almeyda Zambrano & Bridget Bergquist & Eben Broadbent & Charles T. Driscoll & Gideon Erkenswick & David C. Evers & Luis E. Fernandez & Heileen Hsu-Kim, 2022. "Amazon forests capture high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-27997-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27997-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Tengfei Yuan & Shaojian Huang & Peng Zhang & Zhengcheng Song & Jun Ge & Xin Miao & Yujuan Wang & Qiaotong Pang & Dong Peng & Peipei Wu & Junjiong Shao & Peipei Zhang & Yabo Wang & Hongyan Guo & Weidon, 2024. "Potential decoupling of CO2 and Hg uptake process by global vegetation in the 21st century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Jun Zhou & Silas W. Bollen & Eric M. Roy & David Y. Hollinger & Ting Wang & John T. Lee & Daniel Obrist, 2023. "Comparing ecosystem gaseous elemental mercury fluxes over a deciduous and coniferous forest," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Joshua D. Landis & Daniel Obrist & Jun Zhou & Carl E. Renshaw & William H. McDowell & Christopher J. Nytch & Marisa C. Palucis & Joanmarie Vecchio & Fernando Montano Lopez & Vivien F. Taylor, 2024. "Quantifying soil accumulation of atmospheric mercury using fallout radionuclide chronometry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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