Biogeochemical Cycle of Mercury in Reservoir Systems in Wujiang River Basin, Southwest China

This book presents an intensive study on the biogeochemical cycle of mercury in a river-reservoir system in Wujiang River Basin, the upper branch of the Yangtze River. Six reservoirs located in the mainstream of the Wujiang River and their corresponding inflow/outflow rivers were selected for inclusion in this study, which was conducted by researchers from the Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The concentration and distribution of Hg in reservoirs (the water column, sediment, sediment pore water), inflow/outflow rivers of reservoirs, and wet deposition in Wujiang River Basin were systematically investigated, and measurements were taken of the water/air exchange flux of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM). On the basis of the data gathered, a detailed mass balance of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in the six reservoirs was developed. In addition, the book identifies the primary factors controlling Hg methylation in the river-reservoir system in WujiangRiver Basin. The accumulation and bio-magnification of Hg species within food chains in reservoirs and human health risk of MeHg exposure through fish consumption are also included in this book.

Xinbin Feng is a Professor of Environmental Geochemistry at the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. He received a BS degree in geochemistry from Department of Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), China; a master’s degree and a doctorate in Geochemistry from the Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Dr. Feng’s scholarly activities have been found in the areas of Biogeochemical cycling of heavy metals in the environment and health impacts, Non-traditional stable isotope geochemistry, and Remediation of heavy metal polluted environment.

He is the Associate Editor of Journal of Geochemical Exploration since 2014, Acta Geochimica since 2014, and Editorial board member of Science of the Total Environment (2006-2012), Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (2008-2012), Journal of Environmental Sciences (2014-present), Atmosphere (2015-present). Heserved as conference Chair of the 9th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (2009), conference Chair of the 17th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment (2014), and member of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the International Association of GeoChemistry. He is now serving as the Associate Director at Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. 

Bo Meng is now an Associate Professor of Environmental Geochemistry at the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. He received a BS degree in geochemistry from Department of Geology, Northwest University, China and a doctorate in Geochemistry from the Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Dr. Meng’s scholarly activities have been found in the areas of Biogeochemical cycle of mercury in the mercury sensitive ecosystems (e.g. river-reservoir ecosystem, rice paddy, mercury mining area) and health impacts. His scholarly contributions appeared in Environmental Science and Technology, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Environmental Pollution, Biogeosciences, Chemosphere, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and Journal of Environmental Quality, among others.