Curriculum Vitae: After receiving his master’s degree in Organic chemistry and biochemistry (2011) and his doctorate in Ecotechnology (2018), Igor Živković has been working as an Assistant with PhD at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia). Since 2024, he is working as a Research Associate at the abovementioned department and as an assistant professor at the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School.
His main scientific interests are focused on mercury biogeochemistry in the marine environment (mainly Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea) with relations to abundances of marine microorganisms, optimization of methods for mercury determination and speciation in seawater and biota, mercury speciation in the atmosphere and flue gasses, mercury stable isotope measurements in different environmental matrices, development of traceable calibration systems for atmospheric mercury measurements, and metrology in mercury measurements. Results from these research topics have been published in over 30 original research articles and three review articles in journals indexed in Web of Science.
Mercury (Hg) contamination in the Adriatic Sea is a critical environmental concern due to its persistence, toxicity, and ability to bioaccumulate in marine ecosystems. Decades of research in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea have significantly advanced our understanding of mercury dynamics in these regions.
The Adriatic Sea's unique geochemical and hydrodynamic characteristics, combined with anthropogenic pressures, have created a complex system of mercury inputs, transformations, and distributions.
Key sources include historical mining activities (Idrija mine), industrial discharges (chlor-alkali plants), and atmospheric deposition, which contribute to mercury budget and consequently to its accumulation in seawater, sediments, and biota. Studies on mercury speciation have revealed its transformations between inorganic and organic forms, particularly the formation of methylmercury, a highly toxic compound that bioaccumulates in marine organisms, posing risks to both ecosystems and human health.
Long-term monitoring has identified spatial and temporal trends, highlighting contamination hotspots and areas of concern. This presentation underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in unraveling mercury's biogeochemical pathways and its ecological impacts. By synthesizing established knowledge, this lecture will focus on the origins and trends of mercury in the Adriatic and Mediterranean regions.