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Global metagenomic survey identifies sewage-derived hgcAB+ microorganisms as key contributors to riverine methylmercury production

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  • Juntao Xia

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Zhiguo Yuan

    (City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong)

  • Feng Jiang

    (Sun Yat-sen University
    Sun Yat-sen University)

Abstract

Methylmercury (MeHg) in aquatic systems poses a serious public health risk through bioaccumulation in the aquatic food web. In recent years, MeHg has been observed to increase to concerning levels globally in rivers near cities; however, the causes of this increase are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate the significant role of sewage contamination by analyzing over 1,300 publicly available metagenomes in urban rivers worldwide, and conducting experiments with water samples across China. We find that sewage contamination significantly increases the abundance of mercury (Hg)-methylating microorganisms in urban rivers globally. This increase is primarily attributed to the high abundance of active Hg-methylating microorganisms in sewage, which migrate to rivers via direct discharge or combined sewer overflows (CSOs), becoming key contributors to elevated riverine MeHg levels. Our findings underscore the importance of effectively eliminating Hg-methylating microorganisms from sewage to mitigate the public health risks associated with MeHg in urban rivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Juntao Xia & Zhiguo Yuan & Feng Jiang, 2024. "Global metagenomic survey identifies sewage-derived hgcAB+ microorganisms as key contributors to riverine methylmercury production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53479-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53479-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrea G. Bravo & Sylvain Bouchet & Julie Tolu & Erik Björn & Alejandro Mateos-Rivera & Stefan Bertilsson, 2017. "Molecular composition of organic matter controls methylmercury formation in boreal lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Long Chen & Sai Liang & Maodian Liu & Yujun Yi & Zhifu Mi & Yanxu Zhang & Yumeng Li & Jianchuan Qi & Jing Meng & Xi Tang & Haoran Zhang & Yindong Tong & Wei Zhang & Xuejun Wang & Jiong Shu & Zhifeng Y, 2019. "Trans-provincial health impacts of atmospheric mercury emissions in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Manzoor Qadir & Pay Drechsel & Blanca Jiménez Cisneros & Younggy Kim & Amit Pramanik & Praem Mehta & Oluwabusola Olaniyan, 2020. "Global and regional potential of wastewater as a water, nutrient and energy source," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(1), pages 40-51, February.
    4. Qadir, M. & Drechsel, Pay & Cisneros, B. J. & Kim, Y. & Pramanik, A. & Mehta, P. & Olaniyan, O., 2020. "Global and regional potential of wastewater as a water, nutrient and energy source," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 44(1):40-51.
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