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Sun S, Ma M, Guo J, He X, Yin X, Sun T, Zhang Q, Kang S. Westerlies-driven transboundary transport of atmospheric mercury to the north-central Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:173135. [PMID: 38734088 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
The transboundary mercury (Hg) pollution has caused adverse effects on fragile ecosystems of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Yet, knowledge of transport paths and source regions of atmospheric Hg on the inland TP remains poor. Continuous measurements of atmospheric total gaseous mercury (TGM) were conducted in the central TP (Tanggula station, 5100 m a.s.l., June-October). Atmospheric TGM level at Tanggula station (1.90 ± 0.30 ng m-3) was higher than the background level in the Northern Hemisphere. The identified high-potential source regions of atmospheric TGM were primarily located in the northern South Asia region. TGM concentrations were lower during the Indian summer monsoon (ISM)-dominant period (1.81 ± 0.25 ng m-3) than those of the westerly-receding period (2.18 ± 0.40 ng m-3) and westerly-intensifying period (1.91 ± 0.26 ng m-3), contrary to the seasonal pattern in southern TP. The distinct TGM minima during the ISM-dominant period indicated lesser importance of ISM-transported Hg to Tanggula station located in the northern boundary of ISM intrusion, compared to stations in proximity to South and Southeast Asia source regions. Instead, from the ISM-dominant period to the westerly-intensifying period, TGM concentrations showed an increasing trend as westerlies intensified, indicating the key role of westerlies in transboundary transport of atmospheric Hg to the inland TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ming Ma
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaobo He
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Tanggula Cryosphere and Environment Observation Station, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiufeng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tao Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qianggong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Rodriguez-Pascual MJ, Vega CM, Andrade N, Fernández LE, Silman MR, Torrents A. "Hg distribution and accumulation in soil and vegetation in areas impacted by artisanal gold mining in the Southern Amazonian region of Madre de Dios, Peru.". CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142425. [PMID: 38797216 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the primary global source of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions. It has impacted the Amazon rainforest in the Peruvian region of Madre de Dios. However, few studies have investigated Hg's distribution in terrestrial ecosystems in this region. We studied Hg's distribution and its predictors in soil and native plant species from artisanal mining sites. Total Hg concentrations were determined in soil samples collected at different depths (0-5 cm and 5-30 cm) and plant samples (roots, shoots, leaves) from 19 native plant species collected in different land cover categories: naked soil (L1), gravel piles (L2), natural regeneration (L3), reforestation (L4), and primary forest (L5) in the mining sites. Hg levels in air were also studied using passive air samplers. The highest Hg concentrations in soil (average 0.276 and 0.210 mg kg-1 dw.) were found in the intact primary forest (L5) at 0-5 cm depth and in the plant rooting zones at 5-30 cm depth, respectively. Moreover, the highest Hg levels in plants (average 0.64 mg kg-1 dw) were found in foliage of intact primary forest (L5). The results suggest that the forest in these sites receives Hg from the atmosphere through leaf deposition and that Hg accumulates in the soil surrounding the roots. The Hg levels found in the plant leaves of the primary forest are the highest ever recorded in this region, exceeding values found in forests impacted by Hg pollution worldwide and raising concerns about the extent of the ASGM impact in this ecosystem. Correlations between Hg concentrations in soil, bioaccumulation in plant roots, and soil physical-chemical characteristics were determined. Linear regression models showed that the soil organic matter content (SOM), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) predict the Hg distribution and accumulation in soil and bioaccumulation in root plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Rodriguez-Pascual
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Claudia M Vega
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru; Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - Natasha Andrade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Luis E Fernández
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru; Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA; Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA; Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institute for Science, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Miles R Silman
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru; Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA; Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - Alba Torrents
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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Gačnik J, Živković I, Kotnik J, Božič D, Tassone A, Naccarato A, Pirrone N, Sprovieri F, Steffen A, Horvat M. Comparison of active measurements, lichen biomonitoring, and passive sampling for atmospheric mercury monitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:35800-35810. [PMID: 38740686 PMCID: PMC11136809 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33582-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The number of atmospheric mercury (Hg) monitoring stations is growing globally. However, there are still many regions and locations where Hg monitoring is limited or non-existent. Expansion of the atmospheric Hg monitoring network could be facilitated by the use of cost-effective monitoring methods. As such, biomonitoring and passive monitoring offer a unique alternative to well-established monitoring by active measurements, since they do not require a power supply and require minimal workload to operate. The use of biomonitoring (lichens and mosses) and passive air samplers (PASs) (various designs with synthetic materials) has been reported in the literature, and comparisons with active measurement methods have also been made. However, these studies compared either biomonitoring or PASs (not both) to only one type of active measurement. In our work, we used transplanted (7 sampling sites) and in situ lichens (8 sampling sites) for biomonitoring, two PASs from different producers (3 sampling sites), and two different active measurement types (continuous and discontinuous active measurements, 1 and 8 sampling sites, respectively) to evaluate their effectiveness as monitoring methods. In the 9-month sampling campaign, 3 sampling locations with different characteristics (unpolluted, vicinity of a cement plant, and vicinity of a former Hg mine) were used. The results obtained with lichens and PASs clearly distinguished between sampling locations with different Hg concentrations; using both PASs and lichens together increased the confidence of our observations. The present work shows that biomonitoring and passive sampling can be effectively used to identify areas with elevated atmospheric Hg concentrations. The same can be said for discontinuous active measurements; however, the discrepancy between atmospheric Hg concentrations derived from PASs and discontinuous active measurements should be further investigated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gačnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Igor Živković
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jože Kotnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dominik Božič
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Antonella Tassone
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council, Rende, Italy
| | - Attilio Naccarato
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council, Rende, Italy
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Nicola Pirrone
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council, Rende, Italy
| | - Francesca Sprovieri
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council, Rende, Italy
| | - Alexandra Steffen
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Canada
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Liu X, Wang X, Wang D. Assessment of tree-ring mercury radial translocation and age effect in Masson pine: Implications for historical atmospheric mercury reconstruction. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 138:266-276. [PMID: 38135394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The tree ring has been regarded as an emerging archive to reconstruct historical atmospheric mercury (Hg) trends, but with the large knowledge gaps in the reliability. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the Hg source, radial translocation and age effect of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) tree ring at Mt. Jinyun in Chongqing, to assess the suitability of such tree ring as the archive of atmospheric Hg. Results showed that distinct variabilities among Masson pine tree-ring Hg concentration profiles. The Hg concentration significantly increased along with stem height (P < 0.05), indicating the Hg in tree rings mainly derived from foliage uptake atmospheric Hg. We found a distinct age effect that the tree ring of young trees had the higher Hg concentration. Besides, we used the advection-diffusion model to demonstrate how Hg concentration shifted by the advection or/and diffusion in tree rings. The modeling results showed that the advection induced radial translocation during the young growth period of tree was a plausible mechanism to result in the tree-ring Hg record largely different from the trend of anthropogenic Hg emissions in Chongqing. We finally suggest that in further Hg dendrochemistry, better discarding the tree-ring Hg profile of the young growth period to reduce impacts of the radial translocation and age effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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5
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Edwards BA, Pfeffer MA, Ilyinskaya E, Kleine-Marshall BI, Mandon CL, Cotterill A, Aiuppa A, Outridge PM, Wang F. Exceptionally low mercury concentrations and fluxes from the 2021 and 2022 eruptions of Fagradalsfjall volcano, Iceland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170457. [PMID: 38307278 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is naturally released by volcanoes and geothermal systems, but the global flux from these natural sources is highly uncertain due to a lack of direct measurements and uncertainties with upscaling Hg/SO2 mass ratios to estimate Hg fluxes. The 2021 and 2022 eruptions of Fagradalsfjall volcano, southwest Iceland, provided an opportunity to measure Hg concentrations and fluxes from a hotspot/rift system using modern analytical techniques. We measured gaseous Hg and SO2 concentrations in the volcanic plume by near-source drone-based sampling and simultaneous downwind ground-based sampling. Mean Hg/SO2 was an order of magnitude higher at the downwind locations relative to near-source data. This was attributed to the elevated local background Hg at ground level (4.0 ng m-3) likely due to emissions from outgassing lava fields. The background-corrected plume Hg/SO2 mass ratio (5.6 × 10-8) therefore appeared conservative from the near-source to several hundred meters distant, which has important implications for the upscaling of volcanic Hg fluxes based on SO2 measurements. Using this ratio and the total SO2 flux from both eruptions, we estimate the total mass of gaseous Hg released from the 2021 and 2022 Fagradalsfjall eruptions was 46 ± 33 kg, equivalent to a flux of 0.23 ± 0.17 kg d-1. This is the lowest Hg flux estimate in the literature for active open-conduit volcanoes, which range from 0.6 to 12 kg d-1 for other hotspot/rift volcanoes, and 0.5-110 kg d-1 for arc volcanoes. Our results suggest that Icelandic volcanic systems are fed from an especially Hg-poor mantle. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the aerial near-source plume Hg measurement is feasible with a drone-based active sampling configuration that captures all gaseous and particulate Hg species, and recommend this as the preferred method for quantifying volcanic Hg emissions going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brock A Edwards
- Centre for Earth Observation Science and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E8, Canada
| | | | - Evgenia Ilyinskaya
- COMET, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Céline L Mandon
- Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Adam Cotterill
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BS, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandro Aiuppa
- Università di Palermo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Peter M Outridge
- Centre for Earth Observation Science and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E8, Canada
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Science and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada.
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Gustin MS, Dunham-Cheatham SM, Allen N, Choma N, Johnson W, Lopez S, Russell A, Mei E, Magand O, Dommergue A, Elgiar T. Observations of the chemistry and concentrations of reactive Hg at locations with different ambient air chemistry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166184. [PMID: 37586514 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The Hg research community needs methods to more accurately measure atmospheric Hg concentrations and chemistry. The Reactive Mercury Active System (RMAS) uses cation exchange, nylon, and PTFE membranes to determine reactive mercury (RM), gaseous oxidized mercury, and particulate-bound mercury (PBM) concentrations and chemistry. New data for Atlanta, Georgia (NRGT) demonstrated that particulate-bound Hg was dominant and the chemistry was primarily N and S HgII compounds. At Great Salt Lake, Utah (GSL), RM was predominately PBM, with NS > organics > halogen > O HgII compounds. At Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas (GUMO), halogenated compound concentrations were lowest when air interacting with the site was primarily derived from the Midwest, and highest when the air was sourced from Mexico. At Amsterdam Island, Southern Indian Ocean, compounds were primarily halogenated with some N, S, and organic HgII compounds potentially associated with biological activity. The GEOS-Chem model was applied to see if it predicted measurements at five field sites. Model values were higher than observations at GSL, slightly lower at NRGT, and observations were an order of magnitude higher than modeled values for GUMO and Reno, Nevada. In general, data collected from 13 locations indicated that N, S, and organic RM compounds were associated with city and forest locations, halogenated compounds were sourced from the marine boundary layer, and O compounds were associated with long-range transport. Data being developed currently, and in the past, suggest there are multiple forms of RM that modelers must consider, and PBM is an important component of RM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
| | | | - Natalie Allen
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Nicole Choma
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - William Johnson
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sam Lopez
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Armistead Russell
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric Mei
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Olivier Magand
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP(1), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France; Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers à La Réunion (OSU-R), UAR 3365, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo France, 97744 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France
| | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP(1), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Tyler Elgiar
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, Vernal, UT, USA
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Magand O, Angot H, Bertrand Y, Sonke JE, Laffont L, Duperray S, Collignon L, Boulanger D, Dommergue A. Over a decade of atmospheric mercury monitoring at Amsterdam Island in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Sci Data 2023; 10:836. [PMID: 38016986 PMCID: PMC10684586 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02740-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Minamata Convention, a global and legally binding treaty that entered into force in 2017, aims to protect human health and the environment from harmful mercury (Hg) effects by reducing anthropogenic Hg emissions and environmental levels. The Conference of the Parties is to periodically evaluate the Convention's effectiveness, starting in 2023, using existing monitoring data and observed trends. Monitoring atmospheric Hg levels has been proposed as a key indicator. However, data gaps exist, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we present over a decade of atmospheric Hg monitoring data at Amsterdam Island (37.80°S, 77.55°E), in the remote southern Indian Ocean. Datasets include gaseous elemental and oxidised Hg species ambient air concentrations from either active/continuous or passive/discrete acquisition methods, and annual total Hg wet deposition fluxes. These datasets are made available to the community to support policy-making and further scientific advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Magand
- Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers à La Réunion (OSU-R), UAR 3365, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo France, 97744, Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
| | - Hélène Angot
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France.
| | - Yann Bertrand
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
| | - Laure Laffont
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
| | - Solène Duperray
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
| | - Léa Collignon
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France.
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Luo Q, Ren Y, Sun Z, Li Y, Li B, Yang S, Zhang W, Wania F, Hu Y, Cheng H. Characterization of atmospheric mercury from mercury-added product manufacturing using passive air samplers. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122519. [PMID: 37690466 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Although alternatives to mercury (Hg) are available in most products and industrial activities, Hg continues to be an ingredient in some products, including fluorescent lamps and electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). In this work, low-cost passive air samplers (PASs) were used to investigate the atmospheric Hg pollution in Zhongshan, a large industrial city and major hub of mercury-added product manufacturing in South China. The GEM concentrations in the atmosphere were measured for two weeks during the summer of 2019 at a total of 144 sites across Zhongshan. Comparison with the results of active sampling confirmed that the PASs yielded accurate and reliable gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations and were thus well-suited for multi-site field monitoring. The mean GEM concentrations in the areas with mercury-added product manufacturing activities (5.1 ± 0.4 ng m-3) were significantly higher than those in other parts of Zhongshan (1.5 ± 0.4 ng m-3), indicating that local releases, rather than regional transport, were responsible for the atmospheric Hg pollution. Elevated GEM concentrations (up to 11.4 ng m-3) were found in the vicinity of fluorescent lamp and EEE factories and workshops, indicating significant Hg vapor emissions, presumably from the outdated production technologies and non-standard operation by under-trained workers. The Hg emissions from mercury-added product manufacturing were estimated to be 0.06 and 7.8 t yr-1 for Zhongshan and China, respectively, based on the scales of fluorescent lamp and EEE production. The non-carcinogenic health risk of Zhongshan residents from inhalation and ingestion was judged acceptable, whereby the inhalation exposure in Hg-polluted areas exceeded that of dietary ingestion. These findings demonstrate that mercury-added product manufacturing still contributes notably to anthropogenic gaseous Hg releases in the industrial areas with intense mercury-added product manufacturing activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yuxuan Ren
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zehang Sun
- School of Land and Tourism, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471934, Henan, China
| | - Yu Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Bing Li
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Sen Yang
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Wanpeng Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Yuanan Hu
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hefa Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Lin HH, Jung CR, Lin CY, Chang YC, Hsieh CY, Hsu PC, Chuang BR, Hwang BF. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to heavy metals in PM 2.5 and autism spectrum disorder. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:116874. [PMID: 37595830 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders, and its incidence is increasing over time. Although several environmental factors have been suspected to be risk factors for ASD, studies on the effects of airborne heavy metals on newly developed ASD are still limited. We conducted a large birth cohort study of 168,062 live term births in Taichung during 2004-2011 to assess the association of heavy metals in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) with ASD, and identify sensitive time windows during prenatal and postnatal periods. Heavy metals, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in PM2.5, were estimated using the Weather Research and Forecasting/Chem (WRF/Chem), inserted from the top 75 emission sources for the module. The association between childhood ASD and 4 metals were analyzed from pregnancy to 9 months after birth. The Cox proportional hazard model with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the association between heavy metals in PM2.5 and ASD. We identified 666 incident ASD cases in 168,062 participants. A positive association between Hg and ASD was found at 9 months after birth (Hazard Ratio: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.13-2.36). According to the DLNM, there was an increased risk of exposure to Hg during 10-25 weeks after birth, and decreased risk of exposure to Hg during gestational weeks 4-6. Exposure to As and Hg on the risk of ASD were significantly stronger in low birth weight infants (<2500 g) than in those of birth weight ≥2500 g during postnatal period. Postnatal exposure to Hg in PM2.5 may associate with increased ASD incidence. Infants with low birth weight and exposure to As and Hg in PM2.5 are more likely to develop ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Ren Jung
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Chuan-Yao Lin
- Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ya-Chu Chang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yun Hsieh
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chuan Hsu
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Bao-Ru Chuang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Fang Hwang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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10
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Li C, Jiskra M, Nilsson MB, Osterwalder S, Zhu W, Mauquoy D, Skyllberg U, Enrico M, Peng H, Song Y, Björn E, Bishop K. Mercury deposition and redox transformation processes in peatland constrained by mercury stable isotopes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7389. [PMID: 37968321 PMCID: PMC10652010 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43164-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Peatland vegetation takes up mercury (Hg) from the atmosphere, typically contributing to net production and export of neurotoxic methyl-Hg to downstream ecosystems. Chemical reduction processes can slow down methyl-Hg production by releasing Hg from peat back to the atmosphere. The extent of these processes remains, however, unclear. Here we present results from a comprehensive study covering concentrations and isotopic signatures of Hg in an open boreal peatland system to identify post-depositional Hg redox transformation processes. Isotope mass balances suggest photoreduction of HgII is the predominant process by which 30% of annually deposited Hg is emitted back to the atmosphere. Isotopic analyses indicate that above the water table, dark abiotic oxidation decreases peat soil gaseous Hg0 concentrations. Below the water table, supersaturation of gaseous Hg is likely created more by direct photoreduction of rainfall rather than by reduction and release of Hg from the peat soil. Identification and quantification of these light-driven and dark redox processes advance our understanding of the fate of Hg in peatlands, including the potential for mobilization and methylation of HgII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuxian Li
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mats B Nilsson
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dmitri Mauquoy
- School Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Ulf Skyllberg
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maxime Enrico
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, TotalEnergies, LFCR, IPREM, Pau, France
| | - Haijun Peng
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Erik Björn
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kevin Bishop
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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11
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Gačnik J, Gustin MS. Tree rings as historical archives of atmospheric mercury: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165562. [PMID: 37454835 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Historical concentrations of atmospheric mercury (Hg) are uncertain, as monitoring only began a few decades ago. Tree rings can serve as historical archives of Hg, providing centennial trends. The vast majority of tree-ring Hg studies have been published in the last decade, demonstrating the growing use of tree rings for Hg dendrochemistry. Thus, there is a need for a systematic review on current knowledge of tree rings as archives of atmospheric Hg. In this review, the predominant pathways of Hg uptake to tree rings are discussed, including the initial Hg uptake from the surrounding environment, fixation, and subsequent translocation. Foliar uptake of Hg was found to be the most important uptake route for Hg in tree rings, the root and bark route being negligible. Our summary of the suitability of different tree species indicates that radial translocation is the biggest limiting factor for Hg dendrochemistry, shifting and blurring historical Hg trends. Based on the review findings, Picea (spruce) and Larix (larch) are the most promising genera for Hg dendrochemistry. Additionally, the use of tree-ring Hg archives in combination with other co-located archives, namely lake sediments, peat, and ice, is suggested as it enhances the viability of observed tree-ring historical Hg trends. Finally, we propose future directions and recommendations for research using tree-ring Hg, including sampling protocols, experimental designs, and tree selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gačnik
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, USA.
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
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12
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Chen C, Huang JH, Li K, Osterwalder S, Yang C, Waldner P, Zhang H, Fu X, Feng X. Isotopic Characterization of Mercury Atmosphere-Foliage and Atmosphere-Soil Exchange in a Swiss Subalpine Coniferous Forest. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15892-15903. [PMID: 37788478 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
To understand the role of vegetation and soil in regulating atmospheric Hg0, exchange fluxes and isotope signatures of Hg were characterized using a dynamic flux bag/chamber at the atmosphere-foliage/soil interfaces at the Davos-Seehornwald forest, Switzerland. The foliage was a net Hg0 sink and took up preferentially the light Hg isotopes, consequently resulting in large shifts (-3.27‰) in δ202Hg values. The soil served mostly as net sources of atmospheric Hg0 with higher Hg0 emission from the moss-covered soils than from bare soils. The negative shift of δ202Hg and Δ199Hg values of the efflux air relative to ambient air and the Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg ratio among ambient air, efflux air, and soil pore gas highlight that Hg0 re-emission was strongly constrained by soil pore gas evasion together with microbial reduction. The isotopic mass balance model indicates 8.4 times higher Hg0 emission caused by pore gas evasion than surface soil photoreduction. Deposition of atmospheric Hg0 to soil was noticeably 3.2 times higher than that to foliage, reflecting the high significance of the soil to influence atmospheric Hg0 isotope signatures. This study improves our understanding of Hg atmosphere-foliage/soil exchange in subalpine coniferous forests, which is indispensable in the model assessment of forest Hg biogeochemical cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Jen-How Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chenmeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Peter Waldner
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xuewu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
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13
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Kazim M, Hussain Syed J, Binnur Kurt-Karakus P, Ozkaleli Akcetin M, Akram S, Birgul A, Kara M, Dumanoglu Y, Odabasi M, Saqib Z, Nasir J, Mahar A, Shah T, Gulzar Burq M, Jones KC, Wania F. Gaseous elemental mercury emissions from informal E-Waste recycling facilities in Pakistan. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 170:261-269. [PMID: 37729843 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Detrimental effects of mercury (Hg) on ecosystems and human health have been well-documented. Whereas emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from e-waste recycling have been reported in developed countries, much less is known about the situation in the Global South. Using a total of 132 passive air samplers, seasonally resolved concentrations of GEM in air were measured continuously at 32 informal e-waste recycling facilities and background location in Pakistan for a period of one year between September 2020 and December 2021. Annual average GEM concentrations at the studied locations ranged from 1.8 to 92 ng m-3. Among the studied cities, higher concentrations were measured in Karachi (mean ± s.d: 17 ± 22, range: 4.2-92 ng m-3), Lahore (16 ± 4.2, 8.2-22 ng m-3) and Peshawar (15 ± 17, 4.9-80 ng m-3), while lower levels were measured in Hyderabad (6.9 ± 6.2, 3.1-25 ng m-3), consistent with a higher rate of informal recycling activities in metropolitan areas. Seasonally, higher GEM levels occurred during autumn (15 ± 16: 3.3-92 ng m-3) and summer (13 ± 8.7: 1.8-80 ng m-3) than in winter (12 ± 8.4: 2.5-49 ng m-3) and spring (9.2 ± 7.3: 1.8-80 ng m-3), possibly reflecting enhanced volatilization at higher temperatures and/or varying magnitude of recycling operations in different seasons. Policies and strict regulations related to e-waste management should be developed and implemented urgently in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mureed Kazim
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jabir Hussain Syed
- Department of Meteorology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Tarlai Kalan Park Road, 45550 Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey.
| | - Merve Ozkaleli Akcetin
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Sumaira Akram
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Bahria University Islmabad Campus, Pakistan; Department of Environmental Sciences, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Askin Birgul
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Melik Kara
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Yetkin Dumanoglu
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Odabasi
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Zafeer Saqib
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Nasir
- Earth Sciences Directorate, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARC), P.O. Box 8402, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Amanullah Mahar
- Centre for Environmental Science, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Taimoor Shah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Mohsin Gulzar Burq
- Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Johar Town Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Kevin C Jones
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
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14
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Yuan W, Wang X, Lin CJ, Song Q, Zhang H, Wu F, Liu N, Lu H, Feng X. Deposition and Re-Emission of Atmospheric Elemental Mercury over the Tropical Forest Floor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:10686-10695. [PMID: 37437160 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the emission of elemental mercury (Hg0) from the tropical forest floor, which limit our understanding of the Hg mass budget in forest ecosystems. In this study, biogeochemical processes of Hg0 deposition to and evasion from soil in a Chinese tropical rainforest were investigated using Hg stable isotopic techniques. Our results showed a mean air-soil flux as deposition of -4.5 ± 2.1 ng m-2 h-1 in the dry season and as emission of +7.4 ± 1.2 ng m-2 h-1 in the rainy season. Hg re-emission, i.e., soil legacy Hg evasion, induces negative transitions of Δ199Hg and δ202Hg in the evaded Hg0 vapor, while direct atmospheric Hg0 deposition does not exhibit isotopic fractionation. Using an isotopic mass balance model, direct atmospheric Hg0 deposition to soil was estimated to be 48.6 ± 13.0 μg m-2 year-1. Soil Hg0 re-emission was estimated to be 69.5 ± 10.6 μg m-2 year-1, of which 63.0 ± 9.3 μg m-2 year-1 is from surface soil evasion and 6.5 ± 5.0 μg m-2 year-1 from soil pore gas diffusion. Combined with litterfall Hg deposition (∼34 μg m-2 year-1), we estimated a ∼12.6 μg m-2 year-1 net Hg0 sink in the tropical forest. The fast nutrient cycles in the tropical rainforests lead to a strong Hg0 re-emission and therefore a relatively weaker atmospheric Hg0 sink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Qinghai Song
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Fei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Nantao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Huazheng Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
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15
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Zhang H, Fu X, Wu X, Deng Q, Tang K, Zhang L, Sommar J, Sun G, Feng X. Using Mercury Stable Isotopes to Quantify Bidirectional Water-Atmosphere Hg(0) Exchange Fluxes and Explore Controlling Factors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37378655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
In this study, exchange fluxes and Hg isotope fractionation during water-atmosphere Hg(0) exchange were investigated at three lakes in China. Water-atmosphere exchange was overall characterized by net Hg(0) emissions, with lake-specific mean exchange fluxes ranging from 0.9 to 1.8 ng m-2 h-1, which produced negative δ202Hg (mean: -1.61 to -0.03‰) and Δ199Hg (-0.34 to -0.16‰) values. Emission-controlled experiments conducted using Hg-free air over the water surface at Hongfeng lake (HFL) showed negative δ202Hg and Δ199Hg in Hg(0) emitted from water, and similar values were observed between daytime (mean δ202Hg: -0.95‰, Δ199Hg: -0.25‰) and nighttime (δ202Hg: -1.00‰, Δ199Hg: -0.26‰). Results of the Hg isotope suggest that Hg(0) emission from water is mainly controlled by photochemical Hg(0) production in water. Deposition-controlled experiments at HFL showed that heavier Hg(0) isotopes (mean ε202Hg: -0.38‰) preferentially deposited to water, likely indicating an important role of aqueous Hg(0) oxidation played during the deposition process. A Δ200Hg mixing model showed that lake-specific mean emission fluxes from water surfaces were 2.1-4.1 ng m-2 h-1 and deposition fluxes to water surfaces were 1.2-2.3 ng m-2 h-1 at the three lakes. Results from the this study indicate that atmospheric Hg(0) deposition to water surfaces indeed plays an important role in Hg cycling between atmosphere and water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuewu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qianwen Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Kaihui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto M3H5T4, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonas Sommar
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Guangyi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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16
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Coker EA, Nkuah BC, Amoanimaah SA, Oppong JB, Gyamfi O, Ansah E, Ababio KA, Wemegah DD, Borquaye LS, Darko G. Human exposure to mercury in the atmosphere and soils in Konongo: an age-old mining centre in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:3555-3565. [PMID: 36449127 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01441-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The dramatic upsurge of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities in Ghana has resulted in environmental degradation, water pollution and human exposure to mercury-the main hazardous element used in gold extraction. This study evaluated the degree of human exposure to mercury based on the concentrations found in the air and soil samples taken at a resolution of 1 km2 across Konongo, a historic mining town in Ghana's Ashanti Region. The highest atmospheric mercury concentration was 193 ng/m3, which is much higher than the levels the European Union and Japan allowed, which are 10 ng/m3 and 40 ng/m3, respectively. The concentration in the soil was 3.6 mg Hg/kg, which is around ten times higher than the background concentration in nature. Additionally, the soil concentrations were higher above the worrisome levels of soil contamination in agricultural land (4 mg/kg) and industrial areas (16 mg/kg), respectively. Soils are extremely contaminated with mercury at sites artisanal mining activities take place. The concentrations of mercury in the air and soils were significantly higher (p < 0.5) at locations of prominent mining activities compared to areas not close to mining sites. The inhabitants of the Konongo community are therefore exposed to mercury, most likely emitted from artisanal mining activities. A non-carcinogenic risk is posed to the people by inhaling mercury vapour through the air and vapourisation from the soil. Children are exposed to a higher risk than adults as they receive higher daily doses of mercury than adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewura Abena Coker
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bright Cephas Nkuah
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sandra Afia Amoanimaah
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Joel Baffour Oppong
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Opoku Gyamfi
- Department of Chemistry Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Asante-Mampong, Ghana
| | - Eugene Ansah
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kofi Agyarko Ababio
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - David Dotse Wemegah
- Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Godfred Darko
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
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17
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Sun R, Cao F, Dai S, Shan B, Qi C, Xu Z, Li P, Liu Y, Zheng W, Chen J. Atmospheric Mercury Isotope Shifts in Response to Mercury Emissions from Underground Coal Fires. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37167064 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Pollutant emissions from coal fires have caused serious concerns in major coal-producing countries. Great efforts have been devoted to suppressing them in China, notably at the notorious Wuda Coalfield in Inner Mongolia. Recent surveys revealed that while fires in this coalfield have been nearly extinguished near the surface, they persist underground. However, the impacts of Hg volatilized from underground coal fires remain unclear. Here, we measured concentrations and isotope compositions of atmospheric Hg in both gaseous and particulate phases at an urban site near the Wuda Coalfield. The atmospheric Hg displayed strong seasonality in terms of both Hg concentrations (5-7-fold higher in fall than in winter) and isotope compositions. Combining characteristic isotope compositions of potential Hg sources and air mass trajectories, we conclude that underground coal fires were still emitting large amounts of Hg into the atmosphere that have been transported to the adjacent urban area in the prevailing downwind direction. The other local anthropogenic Hg emissions were only evident in the urban atmosphere when the arriving air masses did not pass directly through the coalfield. Our study demonstrates that atmospheric Hg isotope measurement is a useful tool for detecting concealed underground coal fires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Fei Cao
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shifeng Dai
- College of Geoscience and Survey Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
| | - Bing Shan
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Cuicui Qi
- Anhui Academy of Eco-environmental Science Research, Hefei 230071, China
| | - Zhanjie Xu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wang Zheng
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jiubin Chen
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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18
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Schneider L, Fisher JA, Diéguez MC, Fostier AH, Guimaraes JRD, Leaner JJ, Mason R. A synthesis of mercury research in the Southern Hemisphere, part 1: Natural processes. AMBIO 2023; 52:897-917. [PMID: 36943620 PMCID: PMC10073387 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01832-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrate a short 3-6-month atmospheric lifetime for mercury (Hg). This implies Hg emissions are predominantly deposited within the same hemisphere in which they are emitted, thus placing increasing importance on considering Hg sources, sinks and impacts from a hemispheric perspective. In the absence of comprehensive Hg data from the Southern Hemisphere (SH), estimates and inventories for the SH have been drawn from data collected in the NH, with the assumption that the NH data are broadly applicable. In this paper, we centre the uniqueness of the SH in the context of natural biogeochemical Hg cycling, with focus on the midlatitudes and tropics. Due to its uniqueness, Antarctica warrants an exclusive review of its contribution to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg and is therefore excluded from this review. We identify and describe five key natural differences between the hemispheres that affect the biogeochemical cycling of Hg: biome heterogeneity, vegetation type, ocean area, methylation hotspot zones and occurence of volcanic activities. We review the current state of knowledge of SH Hg cycling within the context of each difference, as well as the key gaps that impede our understanding of natural Hg cycling in the SH. The differences demonstrate the limitations in using NH data to infer Hg processes and emissions in the SH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Schneider
- School of Culture, History and Language. Australian National University, Coombs Bld 9 Fellows Rd, Acton. Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Jenny A. Fisher
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - María C. Diéguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional del Comahue), 1250 San Carlos de Bariloche (8400), Quintral Argentina
| | - Anne-Hélène Fostier
- Instituto de Química/Unicamp, Rua Josué de Castro, s/n – Cidade Universitária, Campinas, SP 13083-970 Brazil
| | - Jean R. D. Guimaraes
- Lab. de Traçadores, Inst. de Biofísica, Bloco G, CCS (Centro de Ciências da Saúde), Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão CEP 21941-902 Brazil
| | - Joy J. Leaner
- Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape Government, 1 Dorp Street, Western Cape, Cape Town, 8001 South Africa
| | - Robert Mason
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340 USA
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19
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Tassone A, Magand O, Naccarato A, Martino M, Amico D, Sprovieri F, Leuridan H, Bertrand Y, Ramonet M, Pirrone N, Dommergue A. Seven-year monitoring of mercury in wet precipitation and atmosphere at the Amsterdam Island GMOS station. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14608. [PMID: 37020937 PMCID: PMC10068122 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) fate and transport research requires more effort to obtain a deep knowledge of its biogeochemical cycle, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere and Tropics that are still missing of distributed monitoring sites. Continuous monitoring of atmospheric Hg concentrations and trend worldwide is relevant for the effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (MCM) actions. In this context, Gaseous Elemental Mercury (GEM) and total mercury (THg) in precipitations were monitored from 2013 to 2019 at the Amsterdam Island Observatory (AMS - 37°48'S, 77°34'E) to provide insights into the Hg pathway in the remote southern Indian Ocean, also considering ancillary dataset of Rn-222, CO2, CO, and CH4. GEM average concentration was 1.06 ± 0.07 ng m-3, with a slight increase during the austral winter due to both higher wind speed over the surface ocean and contributions from southern Africa. In wet depositions, THg average concentration was 2.39 ± 1.17 ng L-1, whereas the annual flux averaged 2.04 ± 0.80 μg m-2 year-1. In general, both GEM and Volume-Weighted Mean Concentration (VWMC) of THg did not show an increasing/decreasing trend over the seven-year period, suggesting a substantial lack of evolution about emission of Hg reaching AMS. Air masses Cluster Analysis and Potential Source Contribution Function showed that oceanic evasion was the main Hg contributor at AMS, while further contributions were attributable to long-range transport events from southern Africa, particularly when the occurrence of El Niño increased the frequency of wildfires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Tassone
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Rende, Italy
- Corresponding author. CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rende, Italy.
| | - Olivier Magand
- Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, 38400, Grenoble, France
| | - Attilio Naccarato
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Rende, Italy
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Martino
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Rende, Italy
| | - Domenico Amico
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Rende, Italy
| | | | - Hippolyte Leuridan
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE-IPSL (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Yann Bertrand
- Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, 38400, Grenoble, France
| | - Michel Ramonet
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE-IPSL (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nicola Pirrone
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Rende, Italy
| | - Aurelien Dommergue
- Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, 38400, Grenoble, France
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20
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Kalinchuk VV. Gaseous elemental mercury and its evasion fluxes in the marine boundary layer of the marginal seas of the northwestern Pacific: Results from two cruises in September-December 2019. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159711. [PMID: 36302426 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There are many questions regarding the behavior of mercury in the sea-atmosphere system of the northwestern Pacific. Continuous underway measurements of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and measurements of sea-air GEM evasion fluxes were carried out in the marginal seas of northwestern Pacific from the South China Sea to the Sea of Okhotsk in fall-winter 2019. The median GEM concentration (1.1 ng/m3) was lower than both the background value and the averages previously observed in these areas. A latitudinal gradient of atmospheric GEM and GEM evasion fluxes with maximum values at southern latitudes was found. The following areas have been identified as potential source areas: the Kurill area of the Pacific Ocean Northeast China, Korean Peninsula, and the territory from the southwest coast of the Yellow Sea to the south of Indochina. Seasonal variations were observed in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea with higher GEM concentrations in winter than in fall. Our data and analysis of published data showed significant relationships between GEM evasion fluxes, latitude and sea surface temperature (SST). It seems that on a global scale, along with the GEM gradient between water and atmosphere, SST is the most significant parameter for sea-air GEM evasion fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor V Kalinchuk
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia.
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21
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Zhang L, Zhang G, Zhou P, Zhao Y. A Review of Dry Deposition Schemes for Speciated Atmospheric Mercury. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 110:16. [PMID: 36525086 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study reviewed the existing framework of dry deposition schemes for speciated atmospheric mercury. As the most commonly used methods for mercury dry deposition estimation, the big-leaf resistance scheme for gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), the size distribution regarded resistance scheme for particulate bound mercury (PBM), and the bidirectional air-surface exchange scheme for gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) were introduced in detail. Sensitivity analysis were conducted to quantitatively identify the key parameters for the estimation of speciated mercury dry deposition velocities. The dry deposition velocity of GOM was found to be sensitive to the wind speed and some land use related parameters. The chemical forms of GOM could have a significant impact on the dry deposition velocity. The dry deposition velocity of PBM is sensitive to the mass fraction of PBM in coarse particles, while that of GEM is most sensitive to air temperature. Future research needs were proposed accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CICAEET), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Guichen Zhang
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peisheng Zhou
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CICAEET), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, Jiangsu, China
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22
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Year-round trace gas measurements in the central Arctic during the MOSAiC expedition. Sci Data 2022; 9:723. [PMID: 36434022 PMCID: PMC9700757 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01769-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the key role of the Arctic in the global Earth system, year-round in-situ atmospheric composition observations within the Arctic are sparse and mostly rely on measurements at ground-based coastal stations. Measurements of a suite of in-situ trace gases were performed in the central Arctic during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition. These observations give a comprehensive picture of year-round near-surface atmospheric abundances of key greenhouse and trace gases, i.e., carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, dimethylsulfide, sulfur dioxide, elemental mercury, and selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Redundancy in certain measurements supported continuity and permitted cross-evaluation and validation of the data. This paper gives an overview of the trace gas measurements conducted during MOSAiC and highlights the high quality of the monitoring activities. In addition, in the case of redundant measurements, merged datasets are provided and recommended for further use by the scientific community.
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23
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Srivastava A, Hodges JT. Primary Measurement of Gaseous Elemental Mercury Concentration with a Dynamic Range of Six Decades. Anal Chem 2022; 94:15818-15826. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abneesh Srivastava
- Chemical Sciences Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
| | - Joseph T. Hodges
- Chemical Sciences Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
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24
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Wang C, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Zhang X. Sustained high atmospheric Hg level in Beijing during wet seasons suggests that anthropogenic pollution is continuing: Identification of potential sources. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:113814. [PMID: 35820652 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gaseous elemental Hg (GEM), particulate bound Hg (PBM), and gaseous oxidized Hg (GOM) were monitored at an urban site in Beijing, China during wet seasons (July-November) of 2021. The mean (± standard deviation) GEM, PBM, and GOM concentrations were 3.45 ± 1.27 ng m-3, 48.2 ± 88.6 pg m-3, and 13.7 ± 55.0 pg m-3, respectively. GEM level was stable (generally 3.0-4.0 ng m-3) and the average concentration was about twice that of the background level in Beijing, while the occasionally very high PBM and GOM concentrations (>1000 pg m-3) suggest pollution events. Moreover, GEM, CO, and NO2 exhibit a conspicuous similar diurnal trend with lower values during daytime compared to nighttime under the combined influence of anthropogenic emissions and meteorological factors, and the significantly positive relationship between them indicates that they had similar or common sources. However, the diurnal pattern of reactive Hg (i.e., RM = PBM + GOM) was not pronounced. Both cluster and potential source contribution function analyses show that southern Beijing, Tianjin, as well as central and east Hebei provinces were the dominant source regions for elevated GEM at this monitoring site. The dominant reason for the elevated GEM level (generally >3.5 ng m-3) during pollution event is that majority of air masses originated from the southern polluted regions of this sampling site and traveled at low heights, while the long-range transport of upper clean air masses and continuous high traveling heights were attributed to the low GEM level (<2.0 ng m-3) during clean event. Positive matrix factorization results reveal that regional transport of coal fired air pollutants and local vehicle emissions were the dominant contributors to elevated GEM level, while RM mainly originated from local sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Zhangwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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25
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Feinberg A, Dlamini T, Jiskra M, Shah V, Selin NE. Evaluating atmospheric mercury (Hg) uptake by vegetation in a chemistry-transport model. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1303-1318. [PMID: 35485923 PMCID: PMC9491292 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00032f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), a neurotoxic heavy metal, is transferred to marine and terrestrial ecosystems through atmospheric transport. Recent studies have highlighted the role of vegetation uptake as a sink for atmospheric elemental mercury (Hg0) and a source of Hg to soils. However, the global magnitude of the Hg0 vegetation uptake flux is highly uncertain, with estimates ranging 1000-4000 Mg per year. To constrain this sink, we compare simulations in the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem with a compiled database of litterfall, throughfall, and flux tower measurements from 93 forested sites. The prior version of GEOS-Chem predicts median Hg0 dry deposition velocities similar to litterfall measurements from Northern hemisphere temperate and boreal forests (∼0.03 cm s-1), yet it underestimates measurements from a flux tower study (0.04 cm s-1vs. 0.07 cm s-1) and Amazon litterfall (0.05 cm s-1vs. 0.17 cm s-1). After revising the Hg0 reactivity within the dry deposition parametrization to match flux tower and Amazon measurements, GEOS-Chem displays improved agreement with the seasonality of atmospheric Hg0 observations in the Northern midlatitudes. Additionally, the modelled bias in Hg0 concentrations in South America decreases from +0.21 ng m-3 to +0.05 ng m-3. We calculate a global flux of Hg0 dry deposition to land of 2276 Mg per year, approximately double previous model estimates. The Amazon rainforest contributes 29% of the total Hg0 land sink, yet continued deforestation and climate change threatens the rainforest's stability and thus its role as an important Hg sink. In an illustrative worst-case scenario where the Amazon is completely converted to savannah, GEOS-Chem predicts that an additional 283 Mg Hg per year would deposit to the ocean, where it can bioaccumulate in the marine food chain. Biosphere-atmosphere interactions thus play a crucial role in global Hg cycling and should be considered in assessments of future Hg pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryeh Feinberg
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Thandolwethu Dlamini
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Viral Shah
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noelle E Selin
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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26
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MacFarlane S, Fisher JA, Horowitz HM, Shah V. Two decades of changing anthropogenic mercury emissions in Australia: inventory development, trends, and atmospheric implications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1474-1493. [PMID: 35603632 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00019a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic environmental pollutant emitted into the atmosphere by both natural and anthropogenic sources. In Australia, previous estimates of anthropogenic mercury emissions differ by up to a factor of three, with existing inventories either outdated or inaccurate and several lacking Australia-specific input data. Here, we develop a twenty-year inventory of Australian anthropogenic mercury emissions spanning 2000-2019 with annual resolution. Our inventory uses Australia-specific data where possible and incorporates processes not included in other Australian inventories, such as delayed release effects from waste emissions. We show that Australian anthropogenic mercury emissions have decreased by more than a factor of two over the past twenty years, with the largest decrease from the gold production sector followed by brown coal-fired power plants and commercial product waste. Only the aluminium sector has shown a notable increase in mercury emissions. Using a global 3-D chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem), we show that the reduction in emissions has led to a small decrease in mercury deposition to the Australian continent, with annual oxidised mercury deposition ∼3-4% lower with present day emissions than with emissions from the year 2000. We also find that Australian emissions are not accurately represented in recent global emissions inventories and that differences between inventories have a larger impact than emissions trends on simulated mercury deposition. Overall, this work suggests a significant benefit to Australia from the Minamata Convention, with further reductions to Australian mercury deposition expected from decreases in both Australian and global anthropogenic emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen MacFarlane
- Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jenny A Fisher
- Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - Hannah M Horowitz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Viral Shah
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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27
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Martino M, Tassone A, Angiuli L, Naccarato A, Dambruoso PR, Mazzone F, Trizio L, Leonardi C, Petracchini F, Sprovieri F, Pirrone N, D'Amore F, Bencardino M. First atmospheric mercury measurements at a coastal site in the Apulia region: seasonal variability and source analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:68460-68475. [PMID: 35543786 PMCID: PMC9508219 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20505-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In the framework of the Italian Special Network for Mercury (ISNM) "Reti Speciali", a sampling campaign to monitor atmospheric mercury (Hg) was carried out at Monte Sant'Angelo (MSA). This is a coastal monitoring station in the Apulia region, representative of the Southern Adriatic area, within the Mediterranean basin. This work presents continuous Gaseous Elemental Mercury (GEM) measurements over about three years at MSA, using the Lumex RA-915AM mercury analyzer. The aim was to obtain a dataset suitable for the analysis of Hg concentrations in terms of source and transport variation. Diurnal cycles of GEM were evaluated to observe the influence of local atmospheric temperature and wind speed on potential re-emissions from surrounding sea and soil surfaces. Data were also analyzed in terms of long-range transport, using backward trajectory cluster analysis. The spatial distribution of potential sources, contributing to higher measured GEM values, was obtained employing Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) statistics. The influence of major Hg anthropogenic point sources, such as mining activities and coal-fuel power plants, both regionally and continentally, from mainland Europe, was observed. The role of the vegetation GEM uptake in modulating the seasonal GEM variability was also investigated. The potential of wildfire influence over the highest detected GEM levels was further examined using active fire data and the evaluation of the vegetation dryness index during the selected episodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Martino
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Angiuli
- Apulia Region Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA Puglia), Bari, Italy
| | - Attilio Naccarato
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rende, Italy
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Fiorella Mazzone
- Apulia Region Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA Puglia), Bari, Italy
| | - Livia Trizio
- Apulia Region Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA Puglia), Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Nicola Pirrone
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rende, Italy
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28
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Mercury isotope evidence for Arctic summertime re-emission of mercury from the cryosphere. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4956. [PMID: 36002442 PMCID: PMC9402541 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32440-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
During Arctic springtime, halogen radicals oxidize atmospheric elemental mercury (Hg0), which deposits to the cryosphere. This is followed by a summertime atmospheric Hg0 peak that is thought to result mostly from terrestrial Hg inputs to the Arctic Ocean, followed by photoreduction and emission to air. The large terrestrial Hg contribution to the Arctic Ocean and global atmosphere has raised concern over the potential release of permafrost Hg, via rivers and coastal erosion, with Arctic warming. Here we investigate Hg isotope variability of Arctic atmospheric, marine, and terrestrial Hg. We observe highly characteristic Hg isotope signatures during the summertime peak that reflect re-emission of Hg deposited to the cryosphere during spring. Air mass back trajectories support a cryospheric Hg emission source but no major terrestrial source. This implies that terrestrial Hg inputs to the Arctic Ocean remain in the marine ecosystem, without substantial loss to the global atmosphere, but with possible effects on food webs. Arctic warming thaws permafrost, leading to enhanced soil mercury transport to the Arctic Ocean. Mercury isotope signatures in arctic rivers, ocean and atmosphere suggest that permafrost mercury is buried in marine sediment and not emitted to the global atmosphere
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29
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Atmospheric Modelling of Mercury in the Southern Hemisphere and Future Research Needs: A Review. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13081226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can negatively impact the population’s health and the environment. The research on atmospheric mercury is of critical concern because of the diverse process that this pollutant suffers in the atmosphere as well as its deposition capacity, which can provoke diverse health issues. The Minamata Convention encourages the protection of the adverse effects of mercury, where research is a part of the strategies and atmospheric modelling plays a critical role in achieving the proposed aim. This paper reviews the study of modelling atmospheric mercury based on the southern hemisphere (SH). The article discusses diverse aspects focused on the SH such as the spatial distribution of mercury, its emissions projections, interhemispheric transport, and deposition. There has been a discrepancy between the observed and the simulated values, especially concerning the seasonality of gaseous elemental mercury and total gaseous mercury. Further, there is a lack of research about the emissions projections in the SH and mercury deposition, which generates uncertainty regarding future global scenarios. More studies on atmospheric mercury behaviour are imperative to better understand the SH’s mercury cycle.
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30
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Nipen M, Jørgensen SJ, Bohlin-Nizzetto P, Borgå K, Breivik K, Mmochi AJ, Mwakalapa EB, Quant MI, Schlabach M, Vogt RD, Wania F. Mercury in air and soil on an urban-rural transect in East Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:921-931. [PMID: 35583028 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00040g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There are large knowledge gaps concerning concentrations, sources, emissions, and spatial trends of mercury (Hg) in the atmosphere in developing regions of the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in urban areas. Filling these gaps is a prerequisite for assessing the effectiveness of international regulation and for enabling a better understanding of the global transport of Hg in the environment. Here we use a passive sampling technique to study the spatial distribution of gaseous elemental Hg (Hg(0), GEM) and assess emission sources in and around Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city. Included in the study were the city's main municipal waste dumpsite and an e-waste processing facility as potential sources of GEM. To complement the GEM data and for a better overview of the Hg contamination status of Dar es Salaam, soil samples were collected from the same locations where passive air samplers were deployed and analysed for total Hg. Overall, GEM concentrations ranged between <0.86 and 5.34 ng m-3, indicating significant local sources within the urban area. The municipal waste dumpsite and e-waste site had GEM concentrations elevated above the background, at 2.41 and 1.77 ng m-3, respectively. Hg concentrations in soil in the region (range 0.0067 to 0.098 mg kg-1) were low compared to those of other urban areas and were not correlated with atmospheric GEM concentrations. This study demonstrates that GEM is a significant environmental issue in the urban region of Dar es Salaam. Further studies from urban areas in the Global South are needed to better identify sources of GEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Nipen
- Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, 0315 Oslo, Norway.
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Susanne Jøntvedt Jørgensen
- Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, 0315 Oslo, Norway.
| | | | - Katrine Borgå
- Aquatic Biology and Toxicology and Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Knut Breivik
- Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, 0315 Oslo, Norway.
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Aviti John Mmochi
- Institute for Marine Sciences, University of Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | | | - M Isabel Quant
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265, Military Trail, ON MIC 1A4 Toronto, Canada
| | - Martin Schlabach
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | | | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265, Military Trail, ON MIC 1A4 Toronto, Canada
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31
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Tang Y, Wang S, Li G, Han D, Liu K, Li Z, Wu Q. Elevated Gaseous Oxidized Mercury Revealed by a Newly Developed Speciated Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:7707-7715. [PMID: 35607915 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gaseous oxidized mercury (Hg2+) monitoring is one of the largest challenges in the mercury research field, where existing methods cannot simultaneously satisfy the measurement requirements of both accuracy and time precision, especially in high-particulate environments. Here, we verified that dual-stage cation exchange membrane (CEM) sampler is incapable of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) uptake even if particulate matter is trapped on CEM, whereas the Hg2+ capture efficiency of the sampler is more than 90%. We then developed a Cation Exchange Membrane-Coupled Speciated Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring System (CSAMS) by coupling the dual-stage CEM sampler with the commercial Tekran 2537/1130/1135 system and configuring a new sampling and analysis procedure, so as to improve the monitoring accuracy of Hg2+ and ensure the simultaneous measurement of Hg0, Hg2+, and Hgp in 2 h time resolution. We deployed the CSAMS in urban Beijing in September 2021 and observed an unprecedented elevated Hg2+ during the daytime with an average amplitude of 510 pg m-3. Using a zero-dimensional box model, the elevated Hg2+ production rate was attributed to high atmospheric oxidant concentrations, Hg0 heterogeneous and interfacial oxidation processes on the surface of atmospheric particles, or potential unknown oxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Tang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Guoliang Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Deming Han
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kaiyun Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhijian Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qingru Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
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Schiavo B, Morton-Bermea O, Salgado-Martínez E, García-Martínez R, Hernández-Álvarez E. Health risk assessment of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) in Mexico City. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:456. [PMID: 35612636 PMCID: PMC9130986 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10107-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM or Hg0) from different sources in urban areas are important subjects for environmental investigations. In this study, atmospheric Hg measurements were conducted to investigate air pollution in the urban environment by carrying out several mobile surveys in Mexico City. This work presents atmospheric concentrations of GEM in terms of diurnal variation trends and comparisons with criteria for pollutant concentrations such as CO, SO2, NO2, PM2.5, and PM10. The concentration of GEM was measured during the pre-rainy period by using a high-resolution active air sampler, the Lumex RA 915 M mercury analyzer. In comparison with those for other cities worldwide, the GEM concentrations were similar or slightly elevated, and they ranged from 0.20 to 30.23 ng m-3. However, the GEM concentration was significantly lower than those in contaminated areas, such as fluorescent lamp factory locations and gold mining zones. The GEM concentrations recorded in Mexico City did not exceed the WHO atmospheric limit of 200 ng m-3. We performed statistical correlation analysis which suggests equivalent sources between Hg and other atmospheric pollutants, mainly NO2 and SO2, emitted from urban combustion and industrial plants. The atmospheric Hg emissions are basically controlled by sunlight radiation, as well as having a direct relationship with meteorological parameters. The area of the city studied herein is characterized by high traffic density, cement production, and municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment, which constantly release GEM into the atmosphere. In this study, we included the simulation with the HYSPLIT dispersion model from three potential areas of GEM release. Emissions from industrial corridors and volcanic plumes localized outside the urban area contribute to the pollution of Mexico City and mainly affect the northern area during specific periods and climate conditions. Using the USEPA model, we assessed the human health risk resulting from exposure to inhaled GEM among residents of Mexico City. The results of the health risk assessment indicated no significant noncarcinogenic risk (hazard quotient (HQ) < 1) or consequent adverse effects for children and adults living in the sampling area over the study period. GEM emissions inventory data is necessary to improve our knowledge about the Hg contribution and effect in urban megacity areas with the objective to develop public safe policy and implementing the Minamata Convention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetto Schiavo
- Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04150, Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
| | - Ofelia Morton-Bermea
- Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04150, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Elias Salgado-Martínez
- Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04150, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Rocío García-Martínez
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04150, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
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Feng X, Li P, Fu X, Wang X, Zhang H, Lin CJ. Mercury pollution in China: implications on the implementation of the Minamata Convention. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:634-648. [PMID: 35485580 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00039c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal released into the environment through human activities and natural processes. Human activities have profoundly increased the amount of Hg in the atmosphere and altered its global cycling since the Industrial Revolution. Gaseous elemental Hg is the predominant form of Hg in the atmosphere, which can undergo long-range transport and atmospheric deposition into the aquatic systems. Hg deposition elevates the methylmercury (MeHg) level in fish through bioaccumulation and biomagnification, which poses a serious human health risk. Acute poisoning of MeHg can result in Minamata disease, while low-level long-term exposure in pregnant women can reduce the intelligence quotient of infants. After five sessions of intergovernmental negotiation, the Minamata Convention on mercury entered into force in August 2017 to protect human health and the environment from Hg pollution. Currently China contributes the largest quantity of Hg production, consumption, and emission globally. However, the status of Hg pollution in the environment in China and its associated health risk remains relatively unknown, which hinders the development of implementation plans of the Minamata Convention. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review on the atmospheric release of Hg, distribution of air Hg concentration, human exposure to MeHg and health impacts caused by Hg pollution in China. Ongoing improvement of air pollution control measures is expected to further decrease anthropogenic Hg emissions in China. Air Hg concentrations in China are higher than the background values in the Northern Hemisphere, with spatial distribution largely influenced by anthropogenic emissions. Long-term observations of GEM in China show a decline in recent years. The net Hg transport outflow from China in 2013 is estimated to be 511 t year-1, and ∼60% of such outflow is caused by natural surface Hg emissions. Hg concentrations in fish and rice in China are relatively low and therefore the associated risks of human Hg exposure are low. Future research needs and recommendations for the implementation of the Minamata Convention are also discussed in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
| | - Xuewu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, USA
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Wang B, Yuan W, Wang X, Li K, Lin CJ, Li P, Lu Z, Feng X, Sommar J. Canopy-Level Flux and Vertical Gradients of Hg 0 Stable Isotopes in Remote Evergreen Broadleaf Forest Show Year-Around Net Hg 0 Deposition. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:5950-5959. [PMID: 35420795 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Vegetation uptake represents the dominant route of Hg input to terrestrial ecosystems. However, this plant-directed sink is poorly constrained due to the challenges in measuring the net Hg0 exchange on the ecosystem scale over a long period. Particularly important is the contribution in the subtropics/tropics, where the bulk (∼70%) of the Hg0 deposition is considered to occur. Using the relaxed eddy accumulation technique, this study presents for the first time a whole ecosystem Hg0 flux record over an evergreen hardwood forest. This tower-based micrometeorological method gauged a cumulated net Hg0 flux of -41.1 μg m-2 over 16 months, suggesting that the subtropical montane forest acts as a large and continuous sink of atmospheric Hg0. The monthly net fluxes were consistently negative (-7.3 to -1.0 μg m-2 month-1) throughout the year, with the smallest absolute values occurring during the mild and dry subseason in spring, which was also the annual lowest in vegetation activity. Colocated measurements of multilevel gradients of Hg0 concentration and its stable isotopic composition support the finding of year-round Hg0 deposition. The stable Hg isotope measurements also show that in-canopy bi-directional Hg0 exchange is prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Kai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xian 710061, China
| | - Zhiyun Lu
- National Forest Ecosystem Research Station at Ailaoshan, Jingdong, Yunnan 676209, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xian 710061, China
| | - Jonas Sommar
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
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A Simplified Approach to Modeling the Dispersion of Mercury from Precipitation to Surface Waters—The Bay of Kaštela Case Study. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10040539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Wet deposition is the main source of mercury (Hg) from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface. However, the processes that govern the dispersion of deposited Hg in seawater are currently not well understood. To address this issue, total mercury (THg) concentrations in surface seawaters and precipitation were determined on a monthly basis in the Bay of Kaštela (Central Adriatic Sea). Following the assumption that deposited THg is diluted in the seawater bulk due to mixing processes, an exponential decay-like model was developed and the wet deposition of THg was normalized based on periods between precipitation events and seawater sampling. Normalized wet deposition of THg showed significant correlation with the THg gradient in surface seawater after removal of an outlier. To explain the observed outlier, further data normalization included wind data to account for enhanced seawater mixing due to strong winds. Wind-normalized THg deposition of all datapoints showed significant correlation with the THg gradient in surface seawater. The correlation showed that the THg gradient in surface seawater of 0.378 pg L−1 m−1 corresponds to THg wet deposition of 1 ng m−2 after including the influence of wind speed on seawater mixing.
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36
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Horb EC, Wentworth GR, Makar PA, Liggio J, Hayden K, Boutzis EI, Beausoleil DL, Hazewinkel RO, Mahaffey AC, Sayanda D, Wyatt F, Dubé MG. A decadal synthesis of atmospheric emissions, ambient air quality, and deposition in the oil sands region. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:333-360. [PMID: 34676977 PMCID: PMC9299045 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This review is part of a series synthesizing peer-reviewed literature from the past decade on environmental monitoring in the oil sands region (OSR) of northeastern Alberta. It focuses on atmospheric emissions, air quality, and deposition in and downwind of the OSR. Most published monitoring and research activities were concentrated in the surface-mineable region in the Athabasca OSR. Substantial progress has been made in understanding oil sands (OS)-related emission sources using multiple approaches: airborne measurements, satellite measurements, source emission testing, deterministic modeling, and source apportionment modeling. These approaches generally yield consistent results, indicating OS-related sources are regional contributors to nearly all air pollutants. Most pollutants exhibit enhanced air concentrations within ~20 km of surface-mining activities, with some enhanced >100 km downwind. Some pollutants (e.g., sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides) undergo transformations as they are transported through the atmosphere. Deposition rates of OS-related substances primarily emitted as fugitive dust are enhanced within ~30 km of surface-mining activities, whereas gaseous and fine particulate emissions have a more diffuse deposition enhancement pattern extending hundreds of kilometers downwind. In general, air quality guidelines are not exceeded, although these single-pollutant thresholds are not comprehensive indicators of air quality. Odor events have occurred in communities near OS industrial activities, although it can be difficult to attribute events to specific pollutants or sources. Nitrogen, sulfur, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), and base cations from OS sources occur in the environment, but explicit and deleterious responses of organisms to these pollutants are not as apparent across all study environments; details of biological monitoring are discussed further in other papers in this special series. However, modeling of critical load exceedances suggests that, at continued emission levels, ecological change may occur in future. Knowledge gaps and recommendations for future work to address these gaps are also presented. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:333-360. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C. Horb
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Gregory R. Wentworth
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Present address: Environmental Protection BranchEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Paul A. Makar
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - John Liggio
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Katherine Hayden
- Air Quality Research DivisionEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | | | | | - Ashley C. Mahaffey
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Diogo Sayanda
- Resource Stewardship DivisionAlberta Environment and ParksCalgaryAlbertaCanada
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37
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Gerson JR, Szponar N, Zambrano AA, Bergquist B, Broadbent E, Driscoll CT, Erkenswick G, Evers DC, Fernandez LE, Hsu-Kim H, Inga G, Lansdale KN, Marchese MJ, Martinez A, Moore C, Pan WK, Purizaca RP, Sánchez V, Silman M, Ury EA, Vega C, Watsa M, Bernhardt ES. Amazon forests capture high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining. Nat Commun 2022; 13:559. [PMID: 35091543 PMCID: PMC8799693 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27997-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining throughout the Global South exceed coal combustion as the largest global source of mercury. We examined mercury deposition and storage in an area of the Peruvian Amazon heavily impacted by artisanal gold mining. Intact forests in the Peruvian Amazon near gold mining receive extremely high inputs of mercury and experience elevated total mercury and methylmercury in the atmosphere, canopy foliage, and soils. Here we show for the first time that an intact forest canopy near artisanal gold mining intercepts large amounts of particulate and gaseous mercury, at a rate proportional with total leaf area. We document substantial mercury accumulation in soils, biomass, and resident songbirds in some of the Amazon's most protected and biodiverse areas, raising important questions about how mercury pollution may constrain modern and future conservation efforts in these tropical ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline R Gerson
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Natalie Szponar
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B1, Canada
| | | | - Bridget Bergquist
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Eben Broadbent
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Charles T Driscoll
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
| | - Gideon Erkenswick
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Field Projects International, Escondido, CA, 92029, USA
| | - David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Luis E Fernandez
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Peru
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES), Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - Heileen Hsu-Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Giancarlo Inga
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA
| | - Kelsey N Lansdale
- Environmental Science Program, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Melissa J Marchese
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Ari Martinez
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA
| | - Caroline Moore
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA
| | - William K Pan
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | | | - Victor Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación en Ecología y Conservación (IIECOO), La Libertad, Peru
| | - Miles Silman
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Peru
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES), Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - Emily A Ury
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Claudia Vega
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Peru
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES), Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - Mrinalini Watsa
- Field Projects International, Escondido, CA, 92029, USA
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA
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Evidence that Pacific tuna mercury levels are driven by marine methylmercury production and anthropogenic inputs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2113032119. [PMID: 34983875 PMCID: PMC8764691 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113032119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pacific Ocean tuna is among the most-consumed seafood products but contains relatively high levels of the neurotoxin methylmercury. Limited observations suggest tuna mercury levels vary in space and time, yet the drivers are not well understood. Here, we map mercury concentrations in skipjack tuna across the Pacific Ocean and build generalized additive models to quantify the anthropogenic, ecological, and biogeochemical drivers. Skipjack mercury levels display a fivefold spatial gradient, with maximum concentrations in the northwest near Asia, intermediate values in the east, and the lowest levels in the west, southwest, and central Pacific. Large spatial differences can be explained by the depth of the seawater methylmercury peak near low-oxygen zones, leading to enhanced tuna mercury concentrations in regions where oxygen depletion is shallow. Despite this natural biogeochemical control, the mercury hotspot in tuna caught near Asia is explained by elevated atmospheric mercury concentrations and/or mercury river inputs to the coastal shelf. While we cannot ignore the legacy mercury contribution from other regions to the Pacific Ocean (e.g., North America and Europe), our results suggest that recent anthropogenic mercury release, which is currently largest in Asia, contributes directly to present-day human mercury exposure.
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Aslam MW, Meng B, Abdelhafiz MA, Liu J, Feng X. Unravelling the interactive effect of soil and atmospheric mercury influencing mercury distribution and accumulation in the soil-rice system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:149967. [PMID: 34482140 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) accumulation in rice is an emerging health concern worldwide. However, sources and interactions responsible for Hg species accumulation in different rice tissues are still uncertain. Four experimental plots were carefully designed at an artisanal Hg mining site and a control site to evaluate the effect of atmospheric and soil Hg contents on Hg accumulation in rice. We showed that inorganic Hg (IHg) contents in rice tissues grown either in contaminated or control site soil (non-contaminated soil) were higher at Hg artisanal mining site than those at the control site. Elevated total gaseous mercury (TGM) levels in ambient air were the predominant source of IHg to rice at the Hg mining area. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in rice plant tissues increased in proportionality with MeHg contents in paddy soil. Our results suggest that both atmosphere and soil Hg sources have been impacted the IHg accumulation in rice. Above ground rice tissues, grains, leaves, and stalk accumulated IHg from both atmosphere and soil to varying degrees. Nonetheless, the study also provides the first direct evidence that atmospheric Hg accumulated by above-ground rice tissues could be translocated to below-ground tissues (roots). However, the extent to which atmosphere or soil Hg contributes to IHg in rice tissues may vary with each source's concentration gradient at the given site. No evidence of in planta Hg methylation was found during the current study. Hence, paddy fields are potential MeHg production sites, whereas paddy soil is a unique MeHg accumulation source in rice plants. This study expands and clarifies the contribution of various sources involved in Hg accumulation in the soil rice system. The findings here provide the basis for future research strategies to deal with the global issue of Hg contaminated rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Wajahat Aslam
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, PR China
| | - Bo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, PR China.
| | - Mahmoud A Abdelhafiz
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China; Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Jiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, PR China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, PR China; Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xian 710061, PR China.
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40
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Li X, Wang X, Yuan W, Lu Z, Wang D. Increase of litterfall mercury input and sequestration during decomposition with a montane elevation in Southwest China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 292:118449. [PMID: 34740733 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Litterfall mercury (Hg) input has been regarded as the dominant Hg source in montane forest floor. To depict combining effects of vegetation, climate and topography on accumulation of Hg in montane forests, we comprehensively quantified litterfall Hg deposition and decomposition in a serial of subtropical forests along an elevation gradient on both leeward and windward slopes of Mt. Ailao, Southwest China. Results showed that the average litterfall Hg deposition increased from 12.0 ± 4.2 μg m-2 yr-1 in dry-hot valley shrub at 850-1000 m, 14.9 ± 6.8 μg m-2 yr-1 in mixed conifer-broadleaf forest at 1250-2400 m, to 23.1 ± 8.3 μg m-2 yr-1 in evergreen broadleaf forest at 2500-2650 m. Additionally, the windward slope forests had a significantly higher litterfall Hg depositions at the same altitude because the larger precipitation promoted the greater litterfall biomass production. The one-year litter Hg decomposition showed that the Hg mass of litter in dry-hot valley shrub decreased by 29%, while in mixed conifer-broadleaf and evergreen broadleaf forests increased by 22-48%. The dynamics of Hg in decomposing litter was controlled by the temperature mediated litter decomposition rate and the additional adsorption of environmental Hg during decomposition. Overall, our study highlights the litterfall mediated atmospheric mercury inputs and sequestration increase with the montane elevation, thus driving a Hg enhanced accumulation in the high montane forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianming Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Zhiyun Lu
- Ailaoshan Station for Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan, 676200, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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41
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Angot H, Rutkowski E, Sargent M, Wofsy SC, Hutyra LR, Howard D, Obrist D, Selin NE. Atmospheric mercury sources in a coastal-urban environment: a case study in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1914-1929. [PMID: 34739015 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00253h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is an environmental toxicant dangerous to human health and the environment. Its anthropogenic emissions are regulated by global, regional, and local policies. Here, we investigate Hg sources in the coastal city of Boston, the third largest metropolitan area in the Northeastern United States. With a median of 1.37 ng m-3, atmospheric Hg concentrations measured from August 2017 to April 2019 were at the low end of the range reported in the Northern Hemisphere and in the range reported at North American rural sites. Despite relatively low ambient Hg concentrations, we estimate anthropogenic emissions to be 3-7 times higher than in current emission inventories using a measurement-model framework, suggesting an underestimation of small point and/or nonpoint emissions. We also test the hypothesis that a legacy Hg source from the ocean contributes to atmospheric Hg concentrations in the study area; legacy emissions (recycling of previously deposited Hg) account for ∼60% of Hg emitted annually worldwide (and much of this recycling takes place through the oceans). We find that elevated concentrations observed during easterly oceanic winds can be fully explained by low wind speeds and recirculating air allowing for accumulation of land-based emissions. This study suggests that the influence of nonpoint land-based emissions may be comparable in size to point sources in some regions and highlights the benefits of further top-down studies in other areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Angot
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais, Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Emma Rutkowski
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Maryann Sargent
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Steven C Wofsy
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lucy R Hutyra
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dean Howard
- Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, MA, USA
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Daniel Obrist
- Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Noelle E Selin
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Rumiantseva O, Ivanova E, Komov V. High variability of mercury content in the hair of Russia Northwest population: the role of the environment and social factors. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2021; 95:1027-1042. [PMID: 34694485 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01812-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this work is to study mercury levels in the hair of different social and demographic groups of the population of the Vologda region in Northwest Russia. This region is selected due to a heterogeneous distribution of rivers and lakes-a resource base for fishing. METHODS The mercury content was determined in the hair from the root with a length of about 2 cm. The concentration of total mercury in human hair was determined by the atomic absorption method without preliminary sample preparation using an RA-915M mercury analyzer and a PYRO-915 + pyrolysis unit. RESULTS The average level of mercury in the human hair was 0.445 μg/g (median 0.220 μg/g). The concentration of mercury in the hair of people older than 44 years (0.875 μg/g) was three times higher than in the hair of children under 18 years of age (0.270 μg/g). People who eat fish less than once per month had a hair mercury concentration of 0.172 μg/g, for 1-2 times a month 0.409 μg/g, once a week 0.555 μg/g, and several times a week 0.995 μg/g. The concentration of mercury in the hair of smokers (0.514 μg/g) was higher than in the hair of non-smokers (0.426 μg/g). CONCLUSION Significantly higher concentrations of mercury were observed in the hair of participants from the western part of the region, where reservoirs are the main commercial sources of fish products. The data showed that the main source of people's mercury intake was fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Rumiantseva
- Department of Biology, Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russia, 162600.
| | - Elena Ivanova
- Department of Biology, Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russia, 162600
| | - Viktor Komov
- Department of Biology, Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russia, 162600
- Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russia, 152742
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Yuan W, Wang X, Lin CJ, Sommar JO, Wang B, Lu Z, Feng X. Quantification of Atmospheric Mercury Deposition to and Legacy Re-emission from a Subtropical Forest Floor by Mercury Isotopes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12352-12361. [PMID: 34449213 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Air-soil exchange of elemental mercury vapor (Hg0) is an important component in the budget of the global mercury cycle. However, its mechanistic detail is poorly understood. In this study, stable Hg isotopes in air, soil, and pore gases are characterized in a subtropical evergreen forest to understand the mechanical features of the air-soil Hg0 exchange. Strong HgII reduction in soil releases Hg0 to pore gas during spring-autumn but diminishes in winter, limiting the evasion in cold seasons. Δ199Hg in air modified by the Hg0 efflux during flux chamber measurement exhibit seasonality, from -0.33 ± 0.05‰ in summer to -0.08 ± 0.05‰ in winter. The observed seasonal variation is caused by a strong pore-gas driven soil efflux caused by photoreduction in summer, which weakens significantly in winter. The annual Hg0 gross deposition is 42 ± 33 μg m-2 yr-1, and the corresponding Hg0 evasion from the forest floor is 50 ± 41 μg m-2 yr-1. The results of this study, although still with uncertainty, offer new insights into the complexity of the air-surface exchange of Hg0 over the forest land for model implementation in future global assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xun Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Jonas Olof Sommar
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhiyun Lu
- National Forest Ecosystem Research Station at Ailaoshan, Jingdong, Yunnan 676209, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
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44
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Li C, Xu Z, Luo K, Chen Z, Xu X, Xu C, Qiu G. Biomagnification and trophic transfer of total mercury and methylmercury in a sub-tropical montane forest food web, southwest China. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 277:130371. [PMID: 34384195 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) via food webs in terrestrial ecosystems, especially in subtropical forest ecosystems. In the present study, THg and MeHg were determined as well as the carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope composition in samples of soils, plants, invertebrates, and songbird feathers to construct food webs in a remote subtropical montane forest in Mt. Ailao, southwest China and assess the bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and trophic transfer of Hg. Results showed that the trophic levels (TLs) of all consumers ranged from 0.8 to 3.3 and followed the order of songbirds > spiders > omnivorous insects > herbivorous insects > plants, and THg and MeHg exhibited a clear biomagnification up the food chain from plants-herbivorous/omnivorous insects-spiders-songbirds. The lowest MeHg concentration was observed in pine needles ranged from 0.104 to 0.949 ng g-1 with only a 1.6% ratio of MeHg to THg (MeHg%), while the highest MeHg concentrations ranged from 425 to 5272 ng g-1 in songbirds with MeHg% values of up to 96%. High values of trophic magnification slope (TMS) for THg (0.22) and MeHg (0.38) were observed in plant-invertebrate-songbird food chain, verifying the significant bioaccumulation of Hg, particularly MeHg, in the remote subtropical forest ecosystem. This study confirmed the production and efficient biomagnification of MeHg in remote subtropical montane forest and the significant bioaccumulation of MeHg in terrestrial top predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Li
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Zhidong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kang Luo
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China; Ailaoshan Station for Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, 676200, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China.
| | - Xiaohang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chengxiang Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
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Abstract
The GMOS (Global Mercury Observation System) project has the overall goal to develop a coordinated observing system to monitor mercury on a global scale. Here we present the long-term (2011–2020) air mercury monitoring data obtained at the Listvyanka station located at a shore of Lake Baikal, Siberia. The long-term monitoring shows obvious seasonal variation of the background mercury concentration in air, which increases in the cold and decreases in the warm season. The short-term anomalies are associated with the wind carrying the air from the industrial areas where several big coal-fired power plants are located. A positive correlation between the mercury, SO2 and NO2 concentrations is observed both in the short-term variations and in the monthly average concentrations. The analysis of forward and backward trajectories obtained with the HYSPLIT model demonstrates revealing of the mercury emissions sources. During the cruise of 2018, the continuous air mercury survey over Lake Baikal covered 1800 km. The average mercury concentration over Baikal is notably less in comparison with the average value obtained at the onshore Listvyanka station during the same days of the cruise. That can lead to the conclusion that Baikal is a significant sink of the atmospheric mercury.
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46
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Edwards BA, Kushner DS, Outridge PM, Wang F. Fifty years of volcanic mercury emission research: Knowledge gaps and future directions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 757:143800. [PMID: 33280881 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Volcanism is a potentially important natural source of mercury (Hg) to the environment. However, its impact on the global Hg cycle remains poorly understood despite advances over the last five decades. This represents a major uncertainty in our understanding of the relative contributions of natural and anthropogenic Hg sources to the global atmosphere. This uncertainty, in turn, impacts evaluation of the effectiveness of policies to mitigate the impact of anthropogenic Hg on the environment. Here we critically review recent progress in volcanic Hg emission research, including advances in sampling methods and understanding of the post-emission behavior of Hg in the atmosphere. Our statistical analysis of the limited available data shows that the plumes of non-arc volcanoes exhibit significantly higher Hg concentrations than arc volcanoes, yet the latter emit 3-fold higher Hg fluxes on average. Arc volcanism also dominates volcanic gas emissions globally, indicating that arc volcanoes should be a priority for future Hg emission research. We explore several methodological challenges that continue to hinder progress in quantifying global volcanic Hg emissions, and discuss the importance of longer time-frame data collection to capture temporal variations in emissions. Recommendations are proposed for working toward a more accurate assessment of the global volcanic Hg flux. A detailed summary of all published volcanic Hg emissions data worldwide is also presented as a reference tool for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brock A Edwards
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada.
| | - D Skye Kushner
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, 2156 N Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Peter M Outridge
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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Kalinchuk VV, Lopatnikov EA, Astakhov AS, Ivanov MV, Hu L. Distribution of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) from the Sea of Japan to the Arctic, and Hg(0) evasion fluxes in the Eastern Arctic Seas: Results from a joint Russian-Chinese cruise in fall 2018. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 753:142003. [PMID: 32890877 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Eastern Arctic Seas and the north-western Pacific are among the most poorly investigated areas as far as Hg cycling in marine systems is concerned. Continuous measurements of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) concentrations in the marine boundary layer and Hg(0) evasion fluxes from the sea surface were performed in these regions in fall 2018. Atmospheric Hg(0) concentrations of 1.02-2.50 ng/m3 were measured (average: 1.45 ± 0.12 ng/m3; N = 2518). Values in the Far Eastern Seas of Russia were lower compared to previous observations, presumably reflecting а global trend of decreasing atmospheric Hg(0). Concentration-weighted trajectory analysis highlighted three source regions influencing Hg(0) concentrations in the ambient air during the cruise: 1) the north-eastern China and the Yellow Sea region; 2) the Kuril-Kamchatka region of the Pacific Ocean and the region around the Commander and Aleutian Islands; and 3) the Arctic region. In the Arctic, sea-air Hg(0) evasion fluxes were at the same low levels as those observed earlier in the northern sea areas (0.28-1.35 ng/m2/h, average, 0.70 ± 0.26 ng/m2/h, N = 29). In the Eastern Arctic Seas, Hg(0) evasion fluxes were significantly dependent on river runoff. In the Arctic Ocean, they were negatively correlated with water temperature and positively correlated with salinity, suggesting a proximity to areas with contiguous ice and higher dissolved Hg(0) concentrations in the surface seawater. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the Arctic Ocean is a source of atmospheric Hg(0) during late summer and fall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor V Kalinchuk
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia.
| | - Evgeny A Lopatnikov
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Anatoliy S Astakhov
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Maxim V Ivanov
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Limin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
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Luo Q, Ren Y, Sun Z, Li Y, Li B, Yang S, Zhang W, Hu Y, Cheng H. Atmospheric mercury pollution caused by fluorescent lamp manufacturing and the associated human health risk in a large industrial and commercial city. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 269:116146. [PMID: 33316504 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although already eliminated in most industrial processes, mercury, as an essential ingredient in all energy-efficient lighting technologies, is still used in fluorescent lamp manufacturing. This study was conducted to investigate the atmospheric pollution caused by fluorescent lamp production and assess the associated public health risk in a large industrial and commercial city of south China, Zhongshan, which is a major production hub of lighting products. Concentrations of total gaseous mercury (TGM) in the atmosphere were measured over a total of 342 sites in the industrial, commercial, and residential areas. The average levels of TGM in the industrial, commercial, and residential areas prior to the landing of a typhoon were 12 ± 11, 3.6 ± 2.1, and 2.7 ± 1.3 ng⋅m-3, respectively. TGM concentrations in the industrial areas exhibited significant diurnal variation, with levels in the working hours being much higher than those in the non-working hours, which indicates that the high atmospheric mercury concentrations were contributed by local emissions, instead of regional transport. Most fluorescent lamp manufacturing activities in the city were shut down during a typhoon event, which resulted in a significant reduction in the average TGM level (down to 1.6 ± 1.8 ng⋅m-3) and rendered the difference in the average TGM levels in the industrial areas no longer significant between the working and non-working hours. Elevated TGM levels (up to 49 ng⋅m-3) were found near clusters of small-scale fluorescent lamp workshops in both industrial and commercial areas, which is indicative of significant emissions of mercury vapor resulting from obsolete equipment and production technologies. No significant non-carcinogenic risk was found for the general residents in the sampling area over the study period, while the risk for the workers in the fluorescent lamp manufacturing facilities and workshops could be higher. These findings indicate that fluorescent lamp manufacturing in the developing countries is a major source of atmospheric mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yuxuan Ren
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zehang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Yu Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Bing Li
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Sen Yang
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Wanpeng Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuanan Hu
- MOE Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hefa Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Miller MB, Howard DA, Pierce AM, Cook KR, Keywood M, Powell J, Gustin MS, Edwards GC. Atmospheric reactive mercury concentrations in coastal Australia and the Southern Ocean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141681. [PMID: 32861947 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), especially reactive Hg (RM), data from the Southern Hemisphere (SH) are limited. In this study, long-term measurements of both gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) and RM were made at two ground-based monitoring locations in Australia, the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station (CGBAPS) in Tasmania, and the Macquarie University Automatic Weather Station (MQAWS) in Sydney, New South Wales. Measurements were also made on board the Australian RV Investigator (RVI) during an ocean research voyage to the East Antarctic coast. GEM was measured using the standard Tekran® 2537 series analytical platform, and RM was measured using cation exchange membranes (CEM) in a filter-based sampling method. Overall mean RM concentrations at CGBAPS and MQAWS were 15.9 ± 6.7 pg m-3 and 17.8 ± 6.6 pg m-3, respectively. For the 10-week austral summer period on RVI, mean RM was 23.5 ± 6.7 pg m-3. RM concentrations at CGBAPS were seasonally invariable, while those at MQAWS were significantly different between summer and winter due to seasonal changes in synoptic wind patterns. During the RVI voyage, RM concentrations were relatively enhanced along the Antarctic coast (up to 30 pg m-3) and GEM concentrations were variable (0.2 to 0.9 ng m-3), suggesting periods of enrichment and depletion. Both RM and GEM concentrations were relatively lower while transiting the Southern Ocean farther north of Antarctica. RM concentrations measured in this study were higher in comparison to most other reported measurements of RM in the global marine boundary layer (MBL), especially for remote SH locations. As observations of GEM and RM concentrations inform global ocean-atmosphere model simulations of the atmospheric Hg budget, our results have important implications for understanding of total atmospheric Hg (TAM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu B Miller
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia.
| | - Dean A Howard
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
| | - Ashley M Pierce
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Kellie R Cook
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Melita Keywood
- Centre for Australian Climate and Weather Research, Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer Powell
- Centre for Australian Climate and Weather Research, Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mae S Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Grant C Edwards
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia
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Kokh SN, Sokol EV, Gustaytis MA, Sokol IA, Deviatiiarova AS. Onshore mud volcanoes as a geological source of mercury: Case study from the Kerch Peninsula, Caucasus continental collision zone. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141806. [PMID: 32882564 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Three mud volcanoes (MVs) in the Kerch Peninsula were studied as a geological source of mercury. The study focused on total mercury (THg) concentrations in MV waters, mud masses and plants colonizing MV areas; gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) in the atmosphere above MVs; and sulfide mercury (HgS) and HgCl2 species in representative samples of mud masses. THg concentrations in the illite-smectite mud masses ranged from 38 to 920 ng/g. They contained up to 70% of total mercury in sulfide form (in pyrite and cinnabar), but lacked HgCl2. THg values in MV waters of HCO3-Cl/Na- and/or Cl-HCO3/Na-types with рН = 7.4-9.5 mostly fell in a range of 79-440 ng/L, but rarely exceeded 600 ng/L, being comparable with those for geothermal systems. Another issue of interest was the distribution of THg in below- and above-ground parts of halophyte plant Limonium caspium. THg was incorporated into the plant roots, leaves and flowers; the roots exhibited higher concentrations of THg relative to the other organs. The Hg bioaccumulation factor ranged from 0.06 to 0.76. GEM concentrations measured over large bubbling MV pools and newly formed cracks showed values (50 to 520 ng·m-3) higher than background values (≤3 ng·m-3) associated with pristine test sites and background values measured within three MV areas of the Kerch peninsula that is slightly higher than background concentration for the Northern Hemisphere. Maximum GEM contents were comparable with the values found in geothermal and magmatic volcanic provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana N Kokh
- Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Koptyug Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
| | - Ella V Sokol
- Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Koptyug Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Maria A Gustaytis
- Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Koptyug Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, 2, Pirogov Str., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Ivan A Sokol
- Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Koptyug Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Anna S Deviatiiarova
- Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Koptyug Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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