Spatial distribution of mercury emissions and concentrations A 2009 report by the CSIRO provides an overview of both mercury emissions and mercury levels across Australia. Key findings from this work are displayed graphically in Figure 8. Hotspots can be identified around known point sources of mercury emissions such as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. Figure 8: Mercury emission hot spots – highlighting the spatial distribution of anthropogenic mercury emissions Source: National Pollutant Inventory, Unpublished 2015 Environmental levels of mercury in Australia There is limited information about ambient mercury levels in Australia with many studies focussing on potential pollution sources. A recent study conducted in Albany, Western Australia by Goetze and Mackey has analysed mercury levels in sediments. The data is shown in Table 15. Only one sample exceeded the high trigger level in the ANZECC guidelines for mercury in sediments. The high and low trigger levels are 1 mg/kg and 0.15 mg/kg respectively. Table 15: Mercury Concentration in Sediment of Albany, WA Sediment concentration mg/kg Dry Weight Sample location Date of sample Total Bioavailable King George Sound April 2011 <0.2 <0.2 King River mouth April 2011 0.7 <0.2 Kalgan River mouth April 2011 0.58 <0.2 Princess Royal Harbour April 2011 0.23 <0.2 Wellstead Estuary April 2011 3.6* <0.2 Shannon River April 2011 <0.2 <0.2 Note: *Exceeds the ANZECC Guideline high trigger value 1 mg/kg Goetze and Mackey, 2011 A second study conducted in Port Curtis in Queensland found mean concentrations of mercury of 0.01 mg/kg in sediments with the maximum value of 0.055 mg/kg. A further study conducted in Port Curtis, found mean mercury levels in sediments of 0.02 mg/kg with the 95th percentile level of 0.2 mg/kg. The 95th percentile concentration exceeded the low trigger level in the ANZECC guidelines. Mercury levels in fish A number of studies have investigated the levels of mercury in fish in Australia. The following table summarises the publicly available data (Table 2). As shown in Table 2 a number of fish species have been found to have mercury exceeding the Food Standard Australia and New Guidelines for mercury in fish.
Spatial distribution of mercury emissions and concentrations A 2009 report by the CSIRO provides an overview of both mercury emissions and mercury levels across Australia. Key findings from this work are displayed graphically in Figure 8. Hotspots can be identified around known point sources of mercury emissions such as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. Figure 8: Mercury emission hot spots – highlighting the spatial distribution of anthropogenic mercury emissions Source: National Pollutant Inventory, Unpublished 2015 Environmental levels of mercury in Australia There is limited information about ambient mercury levels in Australia with many studies focussing on potential pollution sources. A recent study conducted in Albany, Western Australia by Goetze and Mackey has analysed mercury levels in sediments. The data is shown in Table 15. Only one sample exceeded the high trigger level in the ANZECC guidelines for mercury in sediments. The high and low trigger levels are 1 mg/kg and 0.15 mg/kg respectively. Table 15: Mercury Concentration in Sediment of Albany, WA Sample location Date of sample Sediment concentration mg/kg Dry Weight Total Bioavailable King George Sound April 2011 <0.2 <0.2 King River mouth April 2011 0.7 <0.2 Kalgan River mouth April 2011 0.58 <0.2 Princess Royal Harbour April 2011 0.23 <0.2 Wellstead Estuary April 2011 3.6* <0.2 Shannon River April 2011 <0.2 <0.2 Note: *Exceeds the ANZECC Guideline high trigger value 1 mg/kg Goetze and Mackey, 2011 A second study conducted in Port Curtis in Queensland found mean concentrations of mercury of 0.01 mg/kg in sediments with the maximum value of 0.055 mg/kg. A further study conducted in Port Curtis, found mean mercury levels in sediments of 0.02 mg/kg with the 95th percentile level of 0.2 mg/kg. The 95th percentile concentration exceeded the low trigger level in the ANZECC guidelines. Mercury levels in fish A number of studies have investigated the levels of mercury in fish in Australia. The following table summarises the publicly available data (Table 2). As shown in Table 2 a number of fish species have been found to have mercury exceeding the Food Standard Australia and New Guidelines for mercury in fish.