Mercury in Alaska
DEC's Division of Environmental Health is concerned about mercury as an environmental health risk. This page contains a compilation of basic information about mercury, toxicity, sources of mercury, monitoring and reduction efforts, and regulatory aspects. The site will be updated as new information becomes available.
If you have any questions on the contents of this page or questions on mercury, please contact Marlena Brewer at marlena.brewer@alaska.gov or 907-269-1099.
News (Updated 11/28/2016)
Traditional Food Contaminant Data for Hawk Inlet near Angoon, Alaska (March 2016)
- Assessment of Traditional Food Contaminant Data for Hawk Inlet
- Summary of Recommendations for the Consumption of Traditional Food from Hawk Inlet
Other News:
- Should you worry about mercury in seafood? What you need to know. The Seattle Times (December 2016)
- Future Impacts of Hydroelectric Power Development on Methylmercury Exposures of Canadian Indigenous Communities (October 2016)
- Mercury Quick Facts: Health Effects of Mercury Exposure (ATSDR)
- Mercury Exposure and Risk in Breeding and Staging Alaskan Shorebirds (July 2016)
- Pike and Burbot in Select AK Rivers: Mercury Exposure and Consumption Recommendations (July 2016)
- What are the Health Benefits of Eating Wild Alaskan Cod? (October 2015)
- Mercury and Selenium Concentrations in Skeletal Muscle, Liver, and Regions of the Heart and Kidney in Bearded Seals from Alaska (September 2015)
- Measuring Mercury in Aquatic Environments (National Park Service 2015)
- Biogeochemical Analysis of Ancient Pacific Code Bone Suggest Hg Bioaccumulation Was Linked to Paleo Sea Level Rise and Climate Change (March 2015)
- Could Nutrients in Fish Shield Fetus from Mercury's Harms? (January 2015)
- Yukon Territory Fish Health Manual (April 2014)
- FDA and EPA Issue Draft Updated Advice for Fish Consumption
- Don't Mess With Mercury (ATSDR)
- Mercury Exposure and Health Impacts among Individuals in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community: A Comprehensive Review (March 2014)
Basic Information
- Mercury (EPA)
- Mercury (EPA: Region 10)
- Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Fate & Transport:
- Climate Change and Watershed Mercury Export
- Mercury in the Environment (USGS)
- How Mercury Gets Into Things Presentation
- Mercury Methylation in the Environment Presentation
- Mercury on the Move Presentation
- A Changing Arctic & Altered Mercury Cycling Presentation
Sources of Mercury:
- US signed Minamata Convention on Mercury (November 2013)
- Mercury in Historical Gold Mining Artifact (ADEC 2013)
Mercury in the Air
- Out-of-State and Natural Contributions to Baseline Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in Alaska (AK Forum 2014 by ENVIRON International Corporation)
- EPA Updates Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for New Power Plants 2013
- Researchers Highlight Problem of Legacy Mercury in the Environment 2013
- Atmospheric Mercury Measurements (NOAA)
- Air Toxics: Mercury Compounds (EPA)
- Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project (National Park Service)
Toxicity Studies
- Mercury & Your Health (ATSDR)
- Lifelong Exposure to Methylmercury Disrupts Stress-Induced Corticosterone Response in Zebra Finches (Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry. May 2014)
- Trends in Blood Mercury Concentrations and Fish Consumption among U.S. Women of Childbearing Age. (EPA December 2013)
- Effects of Macrophytes on the Fate of Mercury in Aquatic Systems (Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry. November 2013)
- Interactions Between Mercury and Phytoplankton: Speciation, Bioavailability, and Internal Handling (Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry. October 2013)
- Ecogenetics of Mercury (Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry. August 2013)
- Action Levels for Elemental Mercury Spills 2012 (ATSDR & EPA)
- Addendum to the Toxicological Profile for Mercury (ATSDR)
- Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products (FDA)
- Mercury: Workplace Safety & Health (CDC)
- Health Assessment for Elemental Mercury (EPA)
- Health Assessment for Methyl Mercury (EPA)
Monitoring
National Park Service Study:
The National Park Service released its' survey Mercury in Fish from 21 Western and Alaskan National Parks in 2014. This survey of fish in nine lakes and one stream in four Alaska national park units has detected mercury. The study also found measurable levels of mercury in fish in other western United States national parks.
- Fact Sheet
- Talking Points
- Alaska Summary
- Points of Contact _______________________________________________________________________
- EPA Biomonitoring: Mercury
- Ancient Cod Bones Carry Modern Warning About Mercury, Climate Change (ADN March 2015)
- Inorganic Nutrients and Contaminants in Subsistence Species of Alaska: Linking Wildlife and Human Health
- Organic Nutrients and Contaminants in Subsistence Species of Alaska: Concentrations and Relationship to Food Preparation Method
- Essential and Non-Essential Elements in Eight Tissue Types from Subsistence-Hunted Bowhead Whale: Nutritional and Toxicological Assessment
- Mercury in Grey Wolves in Alaska (August 2013)
- Mercury Export from the Yukon River Basin and Potential Response to a Changing Climate (USGS)
- Mercury Contaminated Sites in Alaska (ADEC)
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)
- Seeking a Better Understanding of Atmospheric Mercury (NOAA)
- Historic and Contemporary Mercury Exposure and Potential Risk to Yellow-Billed Loons Breeding in Alaska and Canada (Waterbird Society 2014)
Air Monitoring:
- Mercury Deposition Network
- Mercury Deposition Monitoring in AK (Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Nome, and Gates of Arctic National Park-Bettles)
Hair Monitoring:
- Final Health Consultation Report on Mercury Exposure in Nome Mining (2013)
- Gold Mining and Mercury - Fact Sheet (AHSS)
- AK Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program (AHSS)
Fish Monitoring:
- Yukon Territory Fish Health Manual 2014 - Describes health benefits along with health concerns
- Mercury in Pike on the Lower Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers (AK Forum 2014 by USF&W)
- Mercury in Fishes of Alaska, with Emphasis on Subsistence Species (Science Direct)
- Long Term Trends of Hg Uptake in Resident Fish from a Polluted Estuary
- Mercury, Arsenic, and Antimony in Aquatic Biota from the Middle Kuskokwim River Region (BLM)
- Alaska Fish Monitoring Program (ADEC)
- Environmental Contaminants: Alaska Fish Monitoring Program (AK Forum 2014 by ADEC)
- Fish Consumption Guidelines for Alaskans (AHSS)
- Mercury Concentrations in Fish (FDA)
- Methylmercury Fish Tissue Criterion (EPA)
- AK-Mercury and Methyl-Mercury in Northern Pike from Nathional Wildlife Refuges in Alaska
Mercury Reduction
- Quicksilver Caucus (ECOS)
- Status Report on Select Products, Processes and Technologies Utilizing Mercury (Quicksilver Caucus 2013)
- 2005 Compendium of State Mercury Activities (ECOS)
- International Actions for Reducing Mercury Emissions and Use (EPA)
Health & Dental Care Reduction:
- Mercury Information for Health Care Providers (EPA)
- Mercury Reduction in Hospitals (Sustainable Hospitals)
- Dental Amalgam Effluent Guideline (EPA)
- Amalgam Waste (ADA)
Regulations
State of Alaska:
- ADEC 18 AAC 70 Water Quality Standards
- ADEC 18 AAC 75 Oil & Other Hazardous Substances Pollution Control
- ADEC 18 AAC 80 Drinking Water
Federal:
- Mercury Laws & Regulations (EPA)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)
- Occupational Safety & Health Organization (OSHA)
International:
- Technical Background Report for The Global Mercury Assessment 2013
- Environmental Health Criteria for Mercury (WHO)
- Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UN Economic Commission for Europe)
- 1998 Aarhus Protocol on Heavy Metals (UN Economic Commission for Europe)
- Basel Convention
- Rotterdam PIC Convention
Resources
- Safe Mercury Management in Alaska
- Mercury Toxicity (Alaska Regional Hospital)
- Mercury in the Environment (USGS)
- Mercury & the Environment (Environment Canada)
- Mercury Programme (UN Environment Programme)
- Mercury Study Report to Congress 1997 (EPA)
