14 Sep Mercury in Water: Detection, Sources, and Solutions
The first recorded instance of death by mercury poisoning occurred in 1956 in the Japanese city of Minamata. The cause was traced back to the consumption of seafood tainted by runoff from a nearby chemical factory. Since that tragedy, industries around the world have made a concerted effort to reduce the use of mercury in their processes and eliminate the introduction of mercury into the environment.
As a heavy metal, mercury is highly toxic and can cause severe neurological issues and other health concerns. Compared to other types of water pollution, the presence of mercury is much more severe if for no other reason than it can become extremely concentrated in fish and shellfish through the process of biomagnification higher up in the food chain. For these reasons, it’s critical that methods to detect mercury in water sources and mitigate it are as accurate and effective as possible.
Sources and Causes of Mercury Contamination
Although volcanic eruptions and other naturally occurring phenomena can lead to its release, human activity is by far the largest contributor of mercury contamination even to this day. Some of the most common ways mercury finds its way into the environment include burning coal and the production of chlorine by using electrolysis on sodium chloride. Gold mining is another primary source of mercury contamination, especially in impoverished regions where it is used to extract gold ore. The water used in this process may carry mercury into nearby water sources if it is not properly handled.
Health and Environmental Effects of Mercury Exposure
Whether it is encountered as a vapor, in water, in seafood or in its raw elemental state, mercury can trigger a host of devastating health effects. Mercury poisoning can result in loss of coordination, numbness in the extremities, loss of eyesight and muscle weakness. One of the most severe forms of mercury poisoning is known as Minamata disease, and is characterized by extreme neurological symptoms as well as paralysis, coma, insanity and eventually death.
Mercury contamination also has the potential to cause lasting harm to aquatic ecosystems. The Minamata tragedy made the world aware of how insidious mercury can be when introduced into an ecosystem. The principle of bioaccumulation means fish higher up on the food chain are affected by higher concentrations of mercury as they consume smaller fish that have been poisoned. This also can have a significant effect on biodiversity as species are killed off in large numbers by exposure to contamination.
It is for these reasons that the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in 2013. This treaty was ratified by nearly 140 nations and seeks to prevent the release of mercury into the environment. One of its key provisions was eliminating the manufacturing and sale of numerous products containing or made with mercury beginning in 2020.
Methods for Mercury Remediation in Water
Although the Minamata Convention on Mercury effectively ended many industrial processes that relied on mercury, there are others that continue to this day. This means many industries have invested in technology to remove mercury from the water they use before it is released back into the environment.
Some of the most prominent techniques used to remove mercury include:
- Membrane filtration, which uses a semi-permeable membrane to trap mercury molecules as water passes through it
- Ion exchange, in which water flows through resin beads that attract and retain mercury ions
- Phytoremediation, which depends on plants or microorganisms to absorb or digest mercury to trap it or convert it into something less harmful
- Chemical precipitation, a technique that involves adding chemical reagents to the water that interact with mercury to create solid compounds that can be removed
Remediation Begins with Detection
Industries concerned about mercury contamination should begin with a complete understanding of how much they are releasing into the water supply. This means a high-quality mercury analyzer is an essential tool for detecting mercury in water. AGS Scientific offers a wide range of mercury analyzers including those with cold vapor technology that offers accurate and precise results. To learn more about how to choose the right mercury analyzer for a specific industry or application, follow the link or connect with the knowledgeable team at AGS Scientific today.