Soil Hg re-emissions erode control efforts | Science

Since the implementation of China’s Clean Air Action and the Minamata Convention, which aim to mitigate anthropogenic emissions of mercury (Hg) into the environment by phasing out mercury use, China has reduced atmospheric mercury concentrations by approximately 39% (1), primarily by controlling industrial emissions from coal-fired power plants and coal-fired industrial boilers (2) in urban areas. However, Hg releases from surface reservoirs (3), particularly from urban soils, could thwart this progress.