Mercury and Sulfur in the Environment (Infographic)

This infographic depicts a landscape with a river, including the atmosphere and industrial activities (power plants and open-pit minelands) at the head of the watershed. Smokestacks release pollutants (mercury and sulfate) into the sky and a cloud delivers them via rain into the watershed. Text reads: "Mercury and sulfate deposition to the landscape via wet and dry deposition. Global burning of fossil fuels releases sulfur into the environment and produces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change." Minelands contribute pollutants to the watershed through drainage. Text reads: "Local sources such as industries and mining release sulfur into the environment."

Under the mining equipment is a downward-pointing arrow labelled "sulfur," running through rows of poplar and willow trees, and toward the river. Text reads: "Phytoremediation sustainably mitigates sulfur by using specialized trees to stabilize, uptake, and transform the pollution."

Downstream on the river is a forested peatland. Text reads: "Peatlands, both bogs and fens, store atmospherically derived Hg as well as provide conditions for methylating bacteria leading to transport of both Hg (mercury) and MeHg (methylmercury) to surface waters."

Further downstream is a box planted with trees. Text reads: "Biological sulfate treatment systems provide a cost-effective and flexible solution to reduce sulfur loading into the environment."

Beside the river, people in a boat paddle through a rice paddy. Text reads: "Manoomin is a protein-rich grain that grows naturally in shallow lakes and streams in North America. It is a sacred food providing physical, spiritual, and cultural significance for Ojibwe, other Anishinaabe, and Dakota peoples across the Great Lakes region and is integral to Indigenous food sovereignty. Manoomin stands support migrating waterfowl and fish spawning and provide food resources and economic value to harvesters."

In a call-out box is a thermometer; text reads: "A warming climate can enhance decomposition, which will likely increase the release of Hg from soils, and can lower growth efficiency in aquatic species, leading to an increase in MeHg in fish."

Along the river, there are groups of fish, birds, and people recreating. Text reads: "Bioaccumulation of methylmercury from fish occurs in humans and other top predators."

A call-out box illustrates the transformation of mercury into methylmercury, with microbes, low oxygen, carbon, and sulfate all contributing to the conversion process.

At the bottom of the page, text reads: "Major ecosystem services affected by sulfur and mercury: Methylmercury in the environment accumulates in fish. People who eat contaminated fish are exposed to methylmercury and associated health risks. Increasing sulfur levels in freshwater systems support Manoomin have detrimental effects on populations of Manoomin stands."