BRI research on mercury concentrations in fish was recently published in the journal, Science of the Total Environment. The article, A global-scale assessment of fish mercury concentrations and the identification of biological hotspots, presents data on a rapid assessment of fish total mercury (THg) concentrations from 40 different waterbodies in 26 countries, including data from a total of 451 fish of 92 species. The study found that fish THg is positively correlated with body size, trophic level, and latitude of sampling location; however, high THg concentrations observed in a lower trophic level species highlights the importance of biomonitoring across a wide range of trophic levels and characterizing site-specific processes that influence the bioavailability of mercury. The study also provides a model for mercury monitoring in support of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Read the full article here.