Sammanfattning

Inputs of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) to the environment have led to accumulation of Hg in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, contributing to fish Hg concentrations well above the European Union standards in large parts of Fennoscandia. Forestry operations have been reported to increase the concentrations and loads of Hg to surface waters by mobilizing Hg from the soil. This summary of available forestry effect studies reveals considerable variation in treatment effects on total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) at different sites, varying from no effect up to manifold concentration increases, especially for the bioavailable MeHg fraction. Since Hg biomagnification depends on trophic structures, forestry impacts on nutrient flows will also influence the Hg in fish. From this, we conclude that recommendations for best management practices in Swedish forestry operations are appropriate from the perspective of mercury contamination. However, the complexity of defining effective policies needs to be recognized.

Nyckelord

Bioaccumulation; Boreal forest; Forestry effects; Methylation; Methylmercury; Risk governance

Publicerad i

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2016, Volym: 45, nummer: Suppl. 2, sidor: S163-S174
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Eklöf, Karin

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Bishop, Kevin

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Uppsala universitet

Associerade SLU-program

Giftfri miljö
Sjöar och vattendrag
SLU Future Forests


Globala målen

SDG3 Säkerställa hälsosamma liv och främja välbefinnande för alla i alla åldrar


UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljövetenskap
Annan biologi
Miljöledning


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0752-7

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/81229