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Innovative Use of Wild Fig Tree Rings to Track Mercury Pollution

Recent research from Cornell University highlights an innovative and cost-effective approach to monitoring atmospheric mercury, a harmful byproduct linked to gold mining practices in the Global South. The study, published on April 8 in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, focuses on the potential of wild fig trees (Ficus insipida) to serve as biological indicators of mercury pollution.

The study, conducted in the Peruvian Amazon, underscores the global nature of mercury emissions, which can traverse vast distances before settling back into various ecosystems. Upon deposition, mercury accumulates in aquatic organisms such as fish, posing significant health risks to both wildlife and humans due to its neurotoxic effects.

In light of these challenges, researchers are proposing the establishment of biomonitoring networks utilizing wild fig trees to gain insights into the temporal and spatial dynamics of mercury contamination. This method could greatly enhance understanding of how mercury spreads and varies over time.

“Our goal is to mitigate emissions, particularly those resulting from gold mining, as part of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury,” explained Jacqueline Gerson, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor of environmental and biological engineering. “This method could be implemented across the Global South to track changes in mercury over time and across different locations.”

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining contributes to roughly 20% of global gold production while being the leading cause of mercury pollution worldwide. In these operations, liquid elemental mercury is employed to extract gold from ore. This process can lead to environmental contamination when leftover ore is carelessly discarded or when mercury is incinerated, a common practice across approximately 70 countries.

While there have been prior studies using tree rings to monitor mercury emissions from coal combustion in regions like Canada, the adaptation of this technique to measure mercury linked to gold mining in tropical environments marks a significant advancement.

“Though the methodology itself is established, our research aims to explore its application in regions where deploying traditional atmospheric monitors is challenging due to high costs and energy requirements,” Gerson noted. Current methods of active mercury monitoring involve sophisticated devices that require electricity to operate, while passive air samplers are more suited to remote settings but can cost upwards of $100 each.

This research presents a promising avenue for enhancing environmental monitoring efforts, potentially leading to better management strategies to combat mercury pollution stemming from gold mining activities.

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