A Long-Term History of Mercury in Australasia

This project aims to investigate how natural levels of mercury have changed over time and how human activities have affected mercury atmospheric fluxes and deposition. Using state-of-the-art experimental approaches combining palaeontology and chemistry, it seeks to build comprehensive knowledge about the flux and sources of mercury in the Southern Hemisphere, to address significant geospatial and temporal gaps in understanding mercurys environmental impact. Planned outcomes are a more refined understanding of the global biochemical cycle of mercury and its exposure effects on human and wildlife populations. Potential benefits are better-informed international actions designed to reduce environmental and health risks from mercury pollution.