Soil Hg re-emissions erode control efforts | Science

Since the implementation of China’s Clean Air Action and the Minamata Convention, which aims to mitigate anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions to the environment by phasing out Hg usage, China has reduced atmospheric Hg 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, the release of Hg from surface reservoirs (3), particularly urban soils, could offset this progress.