Mercury: solving emerging environmental challenges of the hydroelectric sector

在加拿大许多省份，特别是魁北克，水力发电是能源部门的基石。几十年来，神经毒素甲基汞(甲基汞)在大型水电站水库中在鱼类中的生物积累增加，以及温室气体排放在较小程度上被确定为这一领域的环境问题。然而，最近出现了与汞有关的意想不到的挑战，涉及(1)作为甲基汞来源的河流工厂；(2)变化中的北方碳和汞循环之间的联系，以及水电大坝在改变这些联系方面的作用；(3)利用水力发电的沿海河流对向海洋出口汞的作用。我们建议采用多尺度、多学科的方法来解决这些问题，从一个需要紧急解决方案的跨河工厂的本地案例研究开始，一直到区域规模，以便更好地研究与气候变化有关的挑战。我们组建了一个由来自3个省6所大学的9名学者组成的团队(包括4名研究主任)，他们在汞和碳生物地球化学、基因组学、微生物学、分析化学、食物网络动力学和气候建模方面的工作得到了认可，并与一家大型水电公司(魁北克水电公司)、一家环境顾问公司(AECOM)和一个气候适应联盟(Ouranos)建立了合作伙伴关系。水电部门通过这笔赠款获得的知识将有助于制定战略，减少其汞足迹，保护野生动物和人类社区。这将提高相对于使用其他能源的其他电力公用事业的竞争力。它还将增加水力发电技术和专门知识在全球市场上的可出口性。

Hydroelectricity is a cornerstone of the energy sector in many Canadian provinces, and particularly in Quebec. Increased bioaccumulation of the neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) in fish in large hydro-electric reservoirs and to a lesser extent greenhouse gas emissions have been identified as environmental issues for decades in this sector. Unexpected challenges linked to mercury, however, have recently emerged related to (1) run-over-river plants as source of MeHg; (2) linkages between carbon and Hg cycling in the changing North and the role of hydroelectric dams in modifying these linkages; (3) the role of coastal rivers harnessed for hydroelectricity on the export of Hg to the ocean. We propose to tackle these issues using a multiscale, multidisciplinary approach, starting from a local case study of a run-over-river plant for which urgent solutions are needed, to the regional scale where the challenges linked to climate change can be better studied. We have assembled a team of 9 academics from 6 universities in 3 provinces (including 4 research chairs) recognized for their work in mercury and carbon biogeochemistry, genomics, microbiology, analytical chemistry, food web dynamics and climate modeling to partner up with a major hydroelectric company (Hydro-Quebec), an environment consultant (AECOM) and a consortium on climate adaptation (Ouranos). The knowledge gained by the hydroelectric sector through this grant will help develop strategies to decrease its Hg footprint and protect wildlife and human communities. This will increase competitiveness against other power utilities using other energy sources. It will also increase the exportability of hydroelectrical technologies and know-how on the global market.