Atmospheric particulate mercury concentration and its dry deposition flux in Changchun City, China.

From July 1999 to January 2000, we determined the particulate mercury [Hg(p)] concentration in the atmosphere of five function sites and one contrast site in the city of Changchun, China. During non-heating season, the Hg(p) concentration in air in urban areas ranged from 0.022 to 0.398 ng m(-3) with an average of 0.145 ng m(-3), and at the contrast site with an average of 0.084 ng m(-3). During the heating season, the Hg(p) concentration in urban areas was in the range of 0.148-1.984 ng m(-3) with an average of 0.461 ng m(-3) and with an average of 0.211 ng m(-3) at the contrast site. The Hg(p) concentration during heating season is two times higher than that during non-heating time. Coal burning and wind-blown soil material are the two important sources of Hg(p). Wind-blown soil material contributes 7.9-38.5% to the Hg(p) with an average of 24.1% in urban area. A theoretical model was used to estimate the dry deposition flux, with results of 43.06 microg m(-2) a(-1) in the urban area and 21.28 microg m(-2) a(-1) at the contrast site.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dustfall in Tianjin, China

Atmospheric dustfall samples from 23 locations in Tianjin, China, were collected and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants from March 2002 to March 2003. SigmaPAH16 (sum of 16 PAH compounds) concentrations in the dustfall collected during heating season ranged from 2.5 to 85.5 mug/g, while that during the non-heating season varied from 1.0 to 48.2 microg/g dry weight. The dominant components in the heating season included naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and chrysene, while naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene were dominant during the non-heating season. Compared with the non-heating season, the heating season was characterized by a higher fraction of high-molecular-weight PAHs with four to six rings with exception of the samples from the east industrial area. The east industrial area had more significant correlations between individual PAH compounds, and more discrete triangular components of three-, four-, five- and six-ring PAHs. No significant correlations were observed between the PAHs concentrations and total organic carbon (TOC) in the dustfall samples. The deposition fluxes of sigmaPAH15 (sum of 15 PAHs except naphthalene), sigmaPAH6 (sum of 6 carcinogenic PAHs recommended by IARC) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) from atmospheric deposition to the whole area were estimated as 1911, 196, and 53 microg/m2/year, respectively. The deposition rates for PAH compounds in the east industrial area were higher than those in the urban and rural areas. Furthermore, the deposition contribution of PAHs during domestic heating season in winter was not significant relative to the annual inputs.     

Mercury speciation and exchanges at the air-water interface of a tropical artificial reservoir, French Guiana

The distribution and speciation of mercury (Hg) in air, rain, and surface waters from the artificial tropical lake of Petit-Saut in French Guiana were investigated during the 2003/04 period. In the air, total gaseous mercury (TGM) at the dam station averaged 12+/-2 pmol m(-3) of which >98% was gaseous elemental mercury (GEM). GEM distribution depicted a day-night cycling with high concentrations (up to 15 pmol m(-3)) at dawn and low concentrations (down to 5 pmol m(-3)) at nightfall. Reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) represented <1% of the GEM with a mean concentration of 4+/-3 fmol m(-3). Diel RGM variations were negatively related to GEM. In the rain, the sum of all Hg species in the unfiltered (HgT(UNF)) averaged 16+/-12 pmol L(-1). Temporal distribution of HgT(UNF) exhibited a pattern of high concentrations during the late dry seasons (up to 57.5 pmol L(-1)) and low concentrations (down to 2.7 pmol L(-1)) in the course of the wet seasons. Unfiltered reactive (HgR(UNF)), dissolved gaseous (DGM) and monomethyl (MMHg(UNF)) Hg constituted 20, 5 and 5% of HgT(UNF), respectively. All measured Hg species were positively related and displayed negative relationships with the pH of the rain. In the reservoir surface waters, dissolved total mercury (HgT(D)) averaged 3.4+/-1.2 pmol L(-1) of which 10% consisted of DGM. DGM showed a trend of high concentrations during the dry seasons (480+/-270 fmol L(-1)) and lower (230+/-130 fmol L(-1)) in the course of the wet seasons. Diel variations included diurnal photo-induced DGM production (of about 60 fmol L(-1) h(-1)) coupled to minute to hour oxidation/reduction cycles (of >100 fmol L(-1) amplitude). Finally, calculated atmospheric Hg inputs to the Petit-Saut reservoir represented 14 mol yr(-1) whereas DGM evasion reached 23 mol yr(-1). Apportionment among forms of Hg deposition indicated that up to 75% of the total Hg invasive flux follows the rainfall pathway.     

Seasonality of diffusive exchange of polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene across the air-sea interface of Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan

Gaseous and dissolved concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured in the ambient air and water of Kaohsiung Harbor lagoon, Taiwan, from December 2003 to January 2005. During the rainy season (April to September), gaseous PCB and HCB concentrations were low due to both scavenging by precipitation and dilution by prevailing southwesterly winds blown from the atmosphere of the South China Sea. In contrast, trace precipitation and prevailing northeasterly winds during the dry season (October to March) resulted in higher gaseous PCB and HCB concentrations. Instantaneous air-water exchange fluxes of PCB homologues and HCB were calculated from 22 pairs of air and water samples from Kaohsiung Harbor lagoon. All net fluxes of PCB homologues and HCB in this study are from water to air (net volatilization). The highest net volatile flux observed was + 172 ng m^− 2 day^− 1 (dichlorobiphenyls) in December, 2003 due to the high wind speed and high dissolved concentration. The PCB homologues and HCB fluxes were significantly governed by dissolved concentrations in Kaohsiung Harbor lagoon. For low molecular weight PCBs (LMW PCBs), their fluxes were also significantly correlated with wind speed. The net PCB and HCB fluxes suggest that the annual sums of 69 PCBs and HCB measured in this study were mainly volatile (57.4 × 10³ and 28.3 × 10³ ng m^− 2 yr^− 1, respectively) and estimated yearly, 1.5 kg and 0.76 kg of PCBs and HCB were emitted from the harbor lagoon surface waters to the ambient atmosphere. The average tPCB flux in this study was about one-tenth of tPCB fluxes seen in New York Harbor and in the Delaware River, which are reported to be greatly impacted by PCBs.     

Mercury exposure in the population from Wuchuan mercury mining area, Guizhou, China

Mercury (Hg) exposure in the population from Wuchuan mercury mining area (WMMA), Guizhou, China, was evaluated by human hair Hg investigation. Total gaseous mercury (TGM) in the ambient air and Hg in rice were measured to assess human risk of Hg exposure. High TGM concentrations in the ambient air were found near smelting workshop. Rice not only contained high total mercury (T-Hg) which ranged from 6.0-113 ng/g, but also contained highly elevated methylmercury (Me-Hg) which ranged from 3.1-13.4 ng/g. The means of hair T-Hg concentrations were 33.9 microg/g and 21.5 microg/g at YQG and JXC sites, respectively. Residents from other sites also reflected a certain level of Hg exposure. Age had no significant effect on hair Hg levels, but male had higher hair T-Hg concentrations due to occupational exposure and also higher Me-Hg levels which might be related to larger amount of rice consumption. Hair may be a useful tool for monitoring human exposure of Hg vapor in Hg-mining areas. By a preliminary estimation, the inhalation of Hg polluted air was the main route of inorganic Hg exposure to the smelting workers and vicinal residents; but the population in the study area was also at a potential risk of Me-Hg exposure via rice intake.     

The ebullition of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide and total gaseous mercury from the Cornwall Area of Concern

This paper reports the first ebullitive fluxes of hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and total gaseous mercury (TGM) from the Cornwall Area of Concern (CAC). Although sediments were contaminated with mercury, bubbling was a negligible source of mercury for the global atmosphere. Indeed, the average emission of TGM through ebullition was 0.04 pg m(-2) h(-1). Measurements of H2, CO, CH4 and CO2 trapped gas concentrations and fluxes were used as indicators of diagenesis processes. The CAC represented a significant regional source of CH4 since the estimated ebullitive fluxes (3.5 mg m(-2) h(-1)) were similar to the CH4 emissions measured above typical flooded freshwater wetlands. As molecular diffusion is known as the main pathway of CO2 transport from water to the atmosphere, CO2 ebullitive fluxes were weak (0.39 mg m(-2) h(-1)). Bubbling of CO (1.6 microg m(-2) h(-1)) was 10 folds less important than CO fluxes measured over flooded freshwater wetlands. Finally, H2 emissions (0.001 microg m(-2) h(-1)) were negligible since the level of this trace gas is tightly regulated by microorganisms in anaerobic environments.     

Methyl mercury bioaccumulation in long-finned eels, Anguilla dieffenbachii, from three rivers in Otago, New Zealand

This research focuses on mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in New Zealand long-tinned eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii) from the aquatic environment. Total Hg (HgT) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations were determined in muscle tissue from eels living in three South Island rivers dominated respectively by urban, native bush and agricultural land-uses. Most of the Hg in eels was MeHg (> 84%) and the MeHg concentrations increased linearly with both length and eel age for a given river habitat. The annual growth rates for eels from the urban and agricultural streams were greater than for eels from the native bush stream. The average MeHg accumulation rate was significantly higher for the eels in the agricultural stream compared with either the urban or native bush catchments. These results are probably due to a combination of factors and further investigations in the lower food web are necessary to elucidate the exact mechanisms of MeHg bioaccumulation in these creatures.     

Mercury accumulation in upland acid forest ecosystems nearby a coal-fired power-plant in southwest Europe (Galicia, NW Spain)

This study was carried out to determine total Hg concentrations (HgT) in acid soils and main plant species in forest ecosystems located in the river Sor catchment, which is located 20 km to the NE of the biggest coal-fired power-plant in southwestern Europe (Galicia, NW Spain). Mercury enrichment factors and Hg inventories were also determined in the soils, which were regularly sampled between 1992 and 2001. The presence of elemental Hg was estimated by simple thermal desorption at 105 degrees C. The highest HgT concentrations occurred in upper soil layers (O and A horizons) with values up to 300 ng g(-1). HgT decreased with depth, achieving the lowest values in the bottommost horizons (i.e. the soil parent material, <6 ng g(-1)), except in podzolic soils. A similar trend occurred for Hg enrichment factors (HgEF) which showed values from 40 to 76 in topsoils. Upper soil mineral horizons (A or AB) made the largest contribution (>50%) to the HgT inventory despite showing lower concentrations than the organic horizons. The role of vegetation in capturing atmospheric Hg and subsequent deposition to soil agrees with the sequence of HgT in plant material: wood相似文献   

Mercury distribution and speciation in Lake Balaton, Hungary

The distribution and speciation of mercury in air, rain, lake water, sediment, and zooplankton in Lake Balaton (Hungary) were investigated between 1999 and 2002. In air, total gaseous mercury (TGM) ranged from 0.4 to 5.9 ng m(-3) and particulate phase mercury (PPM) from 0.01 to 0.39 ng m(-3). Higher concentrations of both TGM and PPM occurred during daytime. Higher concentrations of PPM occurred in winter. In rain and snow, total mercury ranged from 10.8 to 36.7 ng L(-1) in summer but levels up to 191 ng L(-1) in winter. Monomethylmercury (MMHg) concentrations ranged from 0.09 to 1.26 ng L(-1) and showed no seasonal variations. Total Hg in the unfiltered lake water varied spatially, with concentrations ranging from 1.4 to 6.5 ng L(-1). Approximately 70% of the total Hg is dissolved. MMHg levels ranged from 0.08 to 0.44 ng L(-1) as total and from 0.05 to 0.37 ng L(-1) in the dissolved form. Lower Hg concentrations in the water column occurred in winter. In suspended particulate matter and in sediment, total mercury ranged from 9 to 160 ng g(-1) dw, and MMHg ranged from 0.07 to 0.84 ng g(-1) dw. In zooplankton, an average mercury level of 31.0+/-6.8 ng g(-1) dw occurred, with MMHg accounting for approximately 17%. In sediments, suspended-matter- and zooplankton-high Hg and MMHg levels occurred at the mouth of the River Zala, but, in the lake, higher concentrations occurred on the Northern side, and an increasing trend from north-west to north-east was observed. In general, regarding Hg, Lake Balaton can be considered as a relatively uncontaminated site. The high-pH and well-oxygenated water as well as the low organic matter content of the sediment does not favour the methylation of Hg. In addition, bioconcentration and bioaccumulation factors are relatively low compared to other aquatic systems.     

Mercury speciation in the French seasonal snow cover

Snow samples have been collected in the French Alps in 1998, 1999 and 2000 in order to measure both total Hg (HgT) and reactive Hg (HgR). Concentrations of HgT were between 13 and 130 pg g(-1) and HgR concentrations were below the detection limit (approximately 0.8 pg g(-1)). Hg speciation in snow was evaluated on the basis of ionic complexation equilibrium with chloride, hydroxide, oxalate. The pH of the snow was found to be an important parameter for Hg speciation. For pH values near 3, HgC2O4 is predominant in snow samples except for snow strongly influenced by anthropogenic sources (in which case HgCl2 predominates). When pH > 4, Hg(OH)2 and HgOHCl are predominant. These latter pH values are observed for precipitation not influenced by anthropogenic sources but more by soil erosion, e.g. Saharan dusts. The knowledge of Hgr speciation in snow is a key question for understanding the mechanisms of transformation of these complexes in snow after precipitation.     

Factors affecting methylmercury distribution in surficial, acidic, base-metal mine tailings

The most toxic form of Hg commonly of concern in the environment is methylmercury (MeHg), as it accumulates in living tissues and bioconcentrates in food webs. Sulfide-rich metal ores are often enriched in Hg, but little is known regarding the potential for Hg methylation in acidic tailings produced from these ores. This study examined acidic tailings from four mines in northern Ontario, Canada, to determine whether they could be an important source of MeHg to downstream environments. Where sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) were abundant and active in pH-circumneutral, unoxidized layers (Potter mine), negligible MeHg was detected. By contrast, a zone of active sulfate reduction found in the acidic, oxidizing, surficial layers of tailings from the Kidd Metsite contained the highest concentrations of MeHg in bulk tailings (12.1 nmol kg(-1) dry wt. of sediment) and porewaters (88 pM) measured in this study. Cell count estimates of SRB by the "most-probable-number" (MPN) method were low in these surficial tailings, suggesting that sulfate reducers from this environment were acidophilic and did not thrive under the pH-neutral conditions of the MPN incubations. A later study of bacterial DNA from these tailings produced evidence of a novel Deltaproteobacterium which has only previously been detected in acid mine drainage environments. Further research will be necessary to determine whether this Deltaproteobacterium is a sulfate reducer and/or an efficient Hg methylator. Surface water concentrations of MeHg did not exceed Canadian water quality guidelines at any of the sites sampled, but one site (Broulan) featured total Hg (HgT) concentrations of 838 pM in filtered samples, far in excess of recommended levels. Trends in surface water MeHg and HgT reflected corresponding values in porewaters from the same sites, indicating that concentrations of these substances in tailings influence surface water concentrations.     

Atmospheric mercury depletion event study in Ny-Alesund (Svalbard) in spring 2005. Deposition and transformation of Hg in surface snow during springtime

A field campaign was conducted in Ny-Alesund (78 degrees 54'N, 11 degrees 53'E), Svalbard (Norway) during April and May 2005. An Atmospheric Mercury (Hg) Depletion Event (AMDE) was observed from the morning of April 24 until the evening of April 27. Transport of already Hg and ozone (O3) depleted air masses could explain this observed depletion. Due to a snowfall event during the AMDE, surface snow Hg concentrations increased two fold. Hg deposition took place over a short period of time corresponding to 3-4 days. More than 80% of the deposited Hg was estimated to be reemitted back to the atmosphere in the days following the event. During the campaign, we observed night and day variations in surface snow Hg concentrations, which may be the result of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) oxidation to divalent Hg at the snow/air interface by daylight surface snow chemistry. Finally, a decrease in the reactive Hg (HgR) fraction of total Hg (HgT) in the surface snow was observed during spring. We postulate that the transformation of HgR to a more stable form may occur in Arctic snow during spring.     

Air-soil exchange of mercury from background soils in the United States

The air-surface exchange of mercury (Hg) was measured, using a dynamic polycarbonate flux chamber, for soils with low or "background" Hg concentrations (<0.1 mg/kg) at eleven locations across the contiguous United States. Sampling locations included agricultural, desert, grassland, mixed and pine forest ecosystems (n=1326 soil flux measurements at 46 individual sites). An overall soil Hg flux of 0.9+/-0.2 ng/m2/h for these background soils was obtained by averaging the means for the different locations. Soil Hg fluxes were significantly lower in dark conditions than in the light for all but the grassland sites. Mean inlet air Hg concentrations were 1.0+/-0.1 ng/m3 in the dark and 1.3+/-0.2 ng/m3 in the light. Soil temperature inside and outside of the chamber, air temperature, relative humidity, and irradiance were measured concurrently with soil Hg flux. Soil-air Hg exchange was weakly predicted by environmental variables (R2 from 0.07 to 0.52). For a single location, flux was better correlated with soil moisture than other measured environmental parameters, suggesting that soil moisture might be an important driver for Hg emissions from background soils. In addition, based on data collected we suggest some quality control measures for use of Tekran 2537A analyzers when measuring low mercury fluxes. Using basic scaling procedures, we roughly estimate that natural emissions from soils in the contiguous U.S. release approximately 100 Mg/yr of Hg to the atmosphere.     

Amazonian former gold mined soils as a source of methylmercury: evidence from a small scale watershed in French Guiana

Total mercury (HgT) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) were investigated in a tropical head watershed (1 km²) of French Guiana. The watershed includes a pristine area on the hill slopes and a former gold mined flat in the bottomland. Concentrations of dissolved and particulate HgT and MMHg were measured in rain, throughfall, soil water and at three points along the stream. Samples were taken in-between and during 14 storm events at the beginning and middle of the 2005 and 2006 rainy seasons. Dissolved and particulate HgT concentrations in the stream slightly increased downstream, while dissolved and particulate MMHg concentrations were low at the pristine sub-watershed outlet (median = 0.006 ng L⁻¹ and 1.84 ng g⁻¹, respectively) and sharply increased at the gold mined flat outlet (median = 0.056 ng L⁻¹ and 6.80 ng g⁻¹, respectively). Oxisols, which are dominant in the pristine area act as a sink of HgT and MMHg from rain and throughfall inputs. Hydromorphic soils in the flat are strongly contaminated with Hg (including Hg⁰ droplets) and their structure has been disturbed by former gold-mining processes, leading to multiple stagnant water areas where biogeochemical conditions are favorable for methylation. In the former gold mined flat high dissolved MMHg concentrations (up to 0.8 ng L⁻¹) were measured in puddles or suboxic soil pore waters, whereas high dissolved HgT concentrations were found in lower Eh conditions. Iron-reducing bacteria were suggested as the main methylators since highest concentrations for dissolved MMHg were associated with high dissolved ferrous iron concentrations. The connection between saturated areas and stagnant waters with the hydrographic network during rain events leads to the export of dissolved MMHg and HgT in stream waters, especially at the beginning of the rainy season. As both legal and illegal gold-mining continues to expand in French Guiana, an increase in dissolved and particulate MMHg emissions in the hydrographic network is expected. This will enhance MMHg bio-amplification and present a threat to local populations, whose diet relies mainly on fish.     

Household and behavioral determinants of indoor PM2.5 in a rural solid fuel burning Native American community

Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM_2.5 were measured for 24 h during heating and non-heating seasons in a rural solid fuel burning Native American community. Household building characteristics were collected during the initial home sampling visit using technician walkthrough questionnaires, and behavioral factors were collected through questionnaires by interviewers. To identify seasonal behavioral factors and household characteristics associated with indoor PM_2.5, data were analyzed separately by heating and non-heating seasons using multivariable regression. Concentrations of PM_2.5 were significantly higher during the heating season (indoor: 36.2 μg/m³; outdoor: 22.1 μg/m³) compared with the non-heating season (indoor: 14.6 μg/m³; outdoor: 9.3 μg/m³). Heating season indoor PM_2.5 was strongly associated with heating fuel type, housing type, indoor pests, use of a climate control unit, number of interior doors, and indoor relative humidity. During the non-heating season, different behavioral and household characteristics were associated with indoor PM_2.5 concentrations (indoor smoking and/or burning incense, opening doors and windows, area of surrounding environment, building size and height, and outdoor PM_2.5). Homes heated with coal and/or wood, or a combination of coal and/or wood with electricity and/or natural gas had elevated indoor PM_2.5 concentrations that exceeded both the EPA ambient standard (35 μg/m³) and the WHO guideline (25 μg/m³).     

The Almadén district (Spain): anatomy of one of the world's largest Hg-contaminated sites

We present data from an early reconnaissance survey (stream sediments, soil, and water Hg chemistry; plants and water crustaceans Hg intake) of the Almadén district (central Spain), that was carried out to establish the potential environmental hazards derived from the anomalous mercury concentrations measured in this realm. The Almadén mercury district (approximately 300 km2) can be regarded as the largest geochemical anomaly of mercury on Earth. The district includes a series of mercury mineral deposits, having in common a simple mineralogy (dominant cinnabar: HgS, and minor pyrite: FeS2). The ore deposits have been mined for more than 2000 years, and the main mine of the district (Almadén), has been active from Roman times to present day with almost no interruptions. The mercury distribution in soils of the district reveals the existence of high, and extremely high mercury values (up to 8889 microg g(-1)), whereas concentrations in stream sediments and waters reach exceptional values of up to 16,000 microg g(-1) and 11,200 ng l(-1) respectively. On the other hand, very high concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) have been detected in calcines (up to 3100 ng g(-1)), sediments (0.32-82 ng g(-1)), and waters (0.040-30 ng l(-1)). Mercury gets incorporated to edible river crustaceans and plants. The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, has Hg concentrations of up to 9060 ng g(-1) (muscle) and 26,150 ng g(-1) (hepatopancreas). Regarding plants, the local wild asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius) yields values of up to 298 microg g(-1) Hg. Mercury also escapes to the atmosphere, and mineral deposits, together with metallurgical activities, generate strong anomalies of atmospheric Hg. The most important concentrations relate to the emissions from the Almadén metallurgical roaster, in the order of 14,000 ng Hg m(-3). Additionally, large open pit operations also contribute to the district atmospheric pool of mercury, with high concentrations above 1000 ng Hg m(-3). Thus, no system (rocks, soils, sediments, waters, atmosphere, biota) in the Almadén district is free from strong Hg contamination.     

Mercury distribution, speciation and flux in the Sepetiba Bay tributaries, SE Brazil

Dissolved gaseous Hg, reactive Hg, total dissolved Hg and particulate Hg concentrations were measured in samples of majors tributaries of the Sepetiba Bay, SE Brazil (Itimirim, Itingu?u, Guarda, Guandu, S?o Francisco and Ita rivers), in dry and rainy seasons. The average Hg concentrations found varied from 0.02 to 0.18 ng L(-1) for dissolved gaseous Hg, from 0.1 to 18.1 ng L(-1) for reactive Hg, from 0.1 to 66.6 ng L(-1) for total dissolved Hg and from 0.3 to 250 ng L(-1) for particulate Hg. During the rainy season, a decrease in the dissolved Hg concentrations and an increase in the particulate Hg concentrations was observed. Positive correlations were found between the reactive Hg and the total dissolved Hg concentrations (r = 0.99), between the particulate Hg and TSS concentrations (r = 0.82) and between total Hg and particulate Hg concentrations (r = 0.95). The instantaneous Hg fluxes varied among rivers from 0.02 to 412 microgs(-1) for total dissolved Hg and from 0.03 to 12,572 microgs(-1) for particulate Hg. The log Kd varied from 3.76 to 6.43 and showed a significant increase in rainy season following an increase in particulate Hg and a decrease in dissolved Hg concentrations. These results suggest that erosion and runoff are the major pathways of Hg transport to rivers and eventually to Sepetiba Bay.     

Temporal and spatial distributions of total gaseous mercury concentrations in ambient air in a mountainous area in southwestern China: Implications for industrial and domestic mercury emissions in remote areas in China

Spatial and temporal distributions of total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations in ambient air were investigated in the Mt. Gongga area (Sichuan province, PR China) from April 2006 to June 2007. The annual geometric mean TGM concentration at the Moxi baseline station was 3.90 ± 1.20 ng m^− 3. Geometric mean TGM concentrations at 14 representative sampling sites during the warm season ranged from 1.60 to 20.1 ng m^− 3 and varied spatially, with levels decreasing between urbanized areas and more remote regions: urban area (U1-U3: 7.76 ± 4.57 to 20.1 ± 15.1 ng m^− 3), town (T1: 4.61 ± 1.15 ng m^− 3) and village (V1-V4: 3.26 ± 0.63 to 8.45 ± 3.06 ng m^− 3), and remote area (R1-R6: 1.60 ± 0.43 to 3.41 ± 1.26 ng m^− 3). Our study suggested that industrial activities, especially non-ferrous smelting activities, were an important source of atmospheric Hg and played a vital role in the regional distribution of TGM. In addition, domestic coal and biomass combustion to heat residential homes were important sources of TGM in densely populated areas during the winter months.     

Probing Hg evasion from surface waters of two Chinese hyper/meso-eutrophic reservoirs

Measurements of water/air exchange flux of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) were conducted in a hyper-eutrophic reservoir and a meso-eutrophic reservoir in southwest China in both warm and cold seasons by using a dynamic flux chamber (DFC) method coupled with an automatic gaseous Hg analyzer. Both strong diurnal and seasonal variations of GEM fluxes were observed. The diurnal cycle of the GEM flux was more pronounced during sunny days compared to cloudy and rainy days, which highlights the effect of solar intensity on the GEM flux. GEM fluxes in warm seasons were considerably higher (2.5 to 4.1 times higher) than in cold seasons, which was attributed to the combined factors including meteorological factors, water quality parameters and water Hg concentrations. Clear variation in GEM fluxes was observed between the two reservoirs. Mean GEM fluxes in the hyper-eutrophic reservoir (WJD) (3.2-20.1 ng m⁻² h⁻¹) were significantly higher than those in the meso-eutrophic reservoir (SFY) (0.6-4.4 ng m⁻² h⁻¹). Evasion of Hg played a distinct role in the mass balance of Hg in the two reservoirs. In WJD, evasion was the second most important mechanism for Hg losses from the reservoir (17.5% of the total losses); whereas in SFY, loss of Hg via volatilization constituted an extremely little portion to the total losses of Hg (0.8%).     

Mercury in the environment and riverside population in the Madeira River Basin, Amazon, Brazil

This work presents quality control results on the mercury concentrations in different environmental (river sediments, forest soils, river suspended matter and fish) and human samples from the lower Madeira River, Amazon sampled between 2001 and 2003, about 15-20 years after the nearly cessation of gold mining activities in the region, which reached its peak in the late 1980s. The study aimed to compare mercury concentrations in these environmental samples with those reported by other authors during the gold rush of the Madeira River Basin. Today, in the Madeira River the releases of mercury register a sudden reduction due the gold price fall in the international trade. However, about 100 t of Hg were released to the atmosphere and to aquatic systems in the region during the gold rush. The present survey shows that notwithstanding the reduction of Hg emissions to the Madeira River Basin from gold mining proper, concentrations in fish and humans are similar to those measured during the gold rush. Reduction in Hg concentrations is restricted to areas close to old point sources and only for abiotic compartments (air and sediments). Remobilization of Hg from bottom sediments plus re-emission from soils due to land use changes are probably responsible for keeping high Hg concentrations in biological samples.