Global mercury levels in rivers have doubled since Industrial Revolution
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-Jun-2025 10:09 ET (17-Jun-2025 14:09 GMT/UTC)
According to new research from Tulane University, mercury levels in the world's rivers have more than doubled since the pre-industrial era, and primary drivers of the increase are wastewater discharge, soil erosion and mercury releases from industrial activities and mining. The study, published in Science Advances, developed a process-based model to simulate mercury transport in rivers and found that global rivers carried approximately 390 metric tons of mercury to oceans annually before 1850. Today, that figure has jumped to about 1,000 metric tons per year. The research provides the first known global baseline for riverine mercury pollution.
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Topics range from liver diseases and transport planning to marine microorganisms / €177 million in funding for the initial funding period
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