High sediment mercury level in Arctic: Study

There is a high sediment mercury levels in Arctic which is more prone for pollution in the region, a recent study has revealed.
The study was conducted on 'Kongsfjorden', one of the Fjord located at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, by a group of researchers from Kottayam Kerala' School of Environmental Sciences affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University.
"The fractional distribution of mercury in the sediment samples were analysed along with total mercury concentration using an analyser. Results of the analysis showed that the sediment mercury was high in the peripheral regions of Kongsfjorden," they said.
The report was presented during fifth International Conference on Eco-toxicology and Environmental Sciences held in Kochi between February 15-17.

The researchers Chandini PK, Mahesh Mohan and Gopalkrishnan VG claimed that the mercury contamination in the polar environment has increased since the industrial revolution.
"The trans-boundary nature of mercury helped in deposition in the polar environment, where it can undergo chemical and biological transformation," the study says.

"Arctic region is more prone to such pollution since the northern half of earth is having more development activities and there is very small size of Arctic sea compared to other oceans. Hence it will take minimum time to reflect the atmospheric pollutant levels," it added.
The researchers have said the low concentration in the residual fraction indicates that the mercury present in the sediment is mainly anthropogenic (environmental pollution originating from human activity).

"The main source of mercury in the Kingsfjorden sediment could be deposition of oxidised gaseous mercury during early spring," it added.