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  • Northern Australia, whither the mercury?

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    65616_1.pdf (228.5Kb)
    Author
    Jardine, Timothy
    Bunn, Stuart
    Year published
    2010
    Metadata
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    Abstract
    Biomagnification of mercury (Hg) leads to high concentrations in fish and subsequent health risks for fish-eaters. Despite the global concern afforded to Hg over the past 40 years, little attention has been paid to this toxic heavy metal in Australia in general, and tropical northern Australia in particular. This review examines past Hg research in Australia and explores seven hypotheses as to why so little research and monitoring has been conducted in northern rivers and estuaries. We rule out the possibility that fishing intensity (an indicator of potential Hg exposure in humans) is lower in Australia than in other countries with more intensive Hg research programs. Instead, we hypothesise that low atmospheric deposition, owing to prevailing wind direction and few local point sources, coupled with highly productive waterbodies, contributes to low Hg bioaccumulation and hence the reduced interest in measuring Hg. Outstanding questions regarding Hg in northern Australia include the assessment of atmospheric deposition rates of Hg, the trophic level and growth and food consumption rates of consumers such as large-bodied fishes, linkages between fire regimes and Hg availability, and the capacity for in situ Hg methylation in tropical systems.
    Journal Title
    Marine and Freshwater Research
    Volume
    61
    Issue
    4
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1071/MF09126
    Copyright Statement
    © 2010 CSIRO. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
    Subject
    Ecology not elsewhere classified
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/36961
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    • Journal articles

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