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Zhang W, Li J, Qiu H, Guo X, Fei Z, Xing Y, Yin D. Distribution and bioavailability of mercury in size-fractioned atmospheric particles around an ultra-low emission power plant in Southwest China. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 138:141-152. [PMID: 38135383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Ultra-low emission (ULE) technology retrofits significantly impact the particulate-bound mercury (Hg) emissions from coal-fired power plants (CFPPs); however, the distribution and bioavailability of Hg in size-fractioned particulate matter (PM) around the ULE-retrofitted CFPPs are less understood. Here, total Hg and its chemical speciation in TSP (total suspended particles), PM10 (aerodynamic particle diameter ≤ 10 µm) and PM2.5 (aerodynamic particle diameter ≤ 2.5 µm) around a ULE-retrofitted CFPP in Guizhou Province were quantified. Atmospheric PM2.5 concentration was higher around this ULE-retrofitted CFPP than that in the intra-regional urban cities, and it had higher mass Hg concentration than other size-fractioned PM. Total Hg concentrations in PM had multifarious sources including CFPP, vehicle exhaust and biomass combustion, while they were significantly higher in autumn and winter than those in other seasons (P < 0.05). Regardless of particulate size, atmospheric PM-bound Hg had lower residual fractions (< 21%) while higher HCl-soluble fractions (> 40%). Mass concentrations of exchangeable, HCl-soluble, elemental, and residual Hg in PM2.5 were higher than those in other size-fractioned PM, and were markedly elevated in autumn and winter (P < 0.05). In PM2.5, HCl-soluble Hg presented a significantly positive relationship with elemental Hg (P < 0.05), while residual Hg showed the significantly positive relationships with HCl-soluble Hg and elemental Hg (P < 0.01). Overall, these results suggested that atmospheric PM-bound Hg around the ULE-retrofitted CFPP tends to accumulate in finer PM, and has higher bioavailable fractions, while has potential transformation between chemical speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550003, China
| | - Jinjuan Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment (Guizhou University), Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Hao Qiu
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xingqiang Guo
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhijun Fei
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yi Xing
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Deliang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment (Guizhou University), Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550025, China.
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Li X, Zhang R, Tripathee L, Yu F, Guo J, Yang W, Guo J, Kang S, Cao J. Characteristics, sources, and health risk assessment of atmospheric particulate mercury in Guanzhong Basin. Environ Pollut 2024; 342:123071. [PMID: 38070642 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) has received increasing public attention owing to its high toxicity and global distribution capability via long-range atmospheric transportation. Guanzhong Basin (GB) is vital for the industrial and economic development of Shaanxi Province. To determine the concentration, spatial distribution, seasonal variation, sources, and health risks of particulate-bound mercury (PBM), PM2.5 samples were collected at three sampling sites representing urban, rural, and remote areas during winter and summer in GB. The three sampling sites were in Xi'an (XN), Taibai (TB), and the Qinling Mountains (QL). The mean PBM concentrations in XN, TB, and QL in winter were 130 ± 115 pg m-3, 57.5 ± 47.3 pg m-3, and 53.6 ± 38.5 pg m-3, respectively, higher than in summer (13.7 ± 7.11 pg m-3, 8.01 ± 2.86 pg m-3, and 7.75 ± 2.85 pg m-3, respectively). PBM concentrations are affected by precipitation, meteorological conditions (temperature and mixed boundary layer), emission sources, and atmospheric transport. During the sampling period, the PBM dry deposition in XN, TB, and QL was 1.90 μg m-2 (2 months), 0.835 μg m-2 (2 months), and 0.787 μg m-2 (2 months), respectively, lower than the range reported in national megacities. According to backward trajectory and potential source contribution factor (PSCF) analysis, mercury pollution in XN is mainly affected by local pollution source emissions, whereas the polluted air mass in TB and QL originates from local anthropogenic emissions and long-distance atmospheric transmission. The non-carcinogenic health risk values of PBM in XN, TB, and QL in winter and summer were less than 1, indicating that the risk of atmospheric PBM to the health of the residents was negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China; Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China; National Observation and Research Station of Regional Ecological Environment Change and Comprehensive Management in the Guanzhong Plain, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710061, China; State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Feng Yu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Jingning Guo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Wen Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Junji Cao
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
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Navrátil T, Rohovec J, Shanley J, Matoušková Š, Nováková T, Šmejkalová AH, Prokeš R. Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and spatial patterns. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:123586-123602. [PMID: 37989951 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30784-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Large amounts of mercury (Hg) were consumed and emitted into the atmosphere during the process of amalgam electrolysis used to produce chlorine and caustic soda since the nineteenth century. In Europe, amalgam electrolysis has been gradually replaced by advanced Hg-free technologies. In this work, we describe changes in atmospheric Hg and bulk Hg wet deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolytic production line of a chlor-alkali plant in Neratovice, Czech Republic, central Europe. Bulk wet deposition Hg near the chlor-alkali plant was low at 3.6 ± 0.8 μg m-2 year-1 due in part to low annual precipitation amounts (486 ± 97 mm) in the period 2015-2021. Nevertheless, Hg deposition was elevated relative to a nearby reference site both before and after decommissioning of the electrolytic line. Switching off the amalgam electrolytic line did not notably affect bulk wet deposition Hg near the chlor-alkali plant. Levels of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) and particle-bound Hg (PBM) monitored seasonally four times per year over 24-h time periods indicated rapid declines in four nearby settlements set in cardinal directions from the Hg emission source. Mean atmospheric GEM and PBM concentrations decreased rapidly from 9.0 ± 2.1 ng m-3 and 243 ± 255 pg m-3 in the period 2013-2017 when amalgam electrolysis was operating to 3.3 ± 0.4 ng m-3 and 32 ± 6 pg m-3 in the period 2018-2021 after its decommissioning in November 2017. Seasonal changes of GEM coincided with changes in temperature with the highest concentrations in summer, while PBM air levels were lowest in summer due to the highest seasonal precipitation amount. GEM concentrations at the four monitored settlements at Neratovice remained elevated at 2.8 ng m-3 with respect to regional background, but PBM levels decreased to background levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Navrátil
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Rohovec
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - James Shanley
- U.S. Geological Survey, PO Box 628, Montpelier, VT, 05601, USA
| | - Šárka Matoušková
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Nováková
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | | | - Roman Prokeš
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- RECETOX, Faculty of Sciences, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
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Nguyen LSP, Hien TT, Truong MT, Chi NDT, Sheu GR. Atmospheric particulate-bound mercury (PBM 10) in a Southeast Asia megacity: Sources and health risk assessment. Chemosphere 2022; 307:135707. [PMID: 35842046 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Particulate-bound mercury (PBM) is a global environmental concern owing to its large dry deposition velocities and scavenging coefficients, both of which drive Hg into terrestrial and marine ecosystems. PBM observation studies have been widely conducted over East Asia, but comparable studies in Peninsular Southeast Asia (PSEA) remain scarce. This is the first study reporting PBM concentrations for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the biggest metropolitan area in Vietnam. A total of 222 samples were collected in 2018 and contained an average PBM10 (particulate matter - PM with diameter ≤10 μm) concentration and Hg mass fraction (i.e. PBM/PM) of 67.3 ± 45.9 pg m-3 and 1.18 ± 1.12 μg g-1, respectively. Although PBM concentration was lower than those reported in Chinese megacities, the Hg mass fraction was similar to those in China, suggesting strong enrichment from anthropogenic Hg emissions in HCMC. Traffic-induced particulate emission and deposition processes were major factors governing PBM temporal variation at our site. In addition, the prevailing southwest monsoon winds brought air masses that passed through industrial areas and were associated with a higher Hg mass fraction. Statistically significant positive correlations (R2 = 0.11-0.52, p < 0.01) were observed for PBM with PM and the Hg mass fraction, indicating similar PM and Hg sources or oxidized Hg adsorption onto PM via gas-particle partitioning. Moreover, PCA results revealed a higher contribution of primary sources than secondary sources to PBM concentration variability in HCMC. A health risk assessment indicated that the PBM concentrations at HCMC posed minimal non-carcinogenic risks (HI < 1) for children and adults, but dermal contact may act as an important exposure route since lightweight clothing is common among residents. This PBM dataset over PSEA, a region with high atmospheric Hg emissions, provides a valuable resource for the Hg scientific community to improve our understanding of Hg biogeochemical cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Sy Phu Nguyen
- Faculty of Environment, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
| | - To Thi Hien
- Faculty of Environment, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Minh Tri Truong
- Faculty of Environment, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Doan Thien Chi
- Faculty of Environment, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Guey-Rong Sheu
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Center for Environmental Monitoring and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Barhoumi B, Tedetti M, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Tesán Onrubia JA, Dufour A, Doan QT, Boutaleb S, Touil S, Scippo ML. Chemical composition and in vitro aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity of atmospheric particulate matter at an urban, agricultural and industrial site in North Africa (Bizerte, Tunisia). Chemosphere 2020; 258:127312. [PMID: 32947663 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
As recognized risk factor to pose a health threat to humans and wildlife globally, atmospheric particulate matter (PM) were collected from a North African coastal city (Bizerte, Tunisia) for one year, and were characterized for their chemical compositions, including mercury (HgPM), as well as organic contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)), organic carbon (OC) and organic nitrogen (ON), determined in a previous study. Then, we applied an in vitro reporter gene assay (DR-CALUX) to detect and quantify the dioxin-like activity of PM-associated organic contaminants. Results showed that average HgPM concentration over the entire sampling period was found to be 13.4 ± 12 pg m-3. Seasonal variation in the HgPM concentration was observed with lower values in spring and summer and higher values in winter and autumn due to the variation of meteorological conditions together with the emission sources. Principal component analysis suggested that fossil fuel combustion and a nearby cement factory were the dominant anthropogenic HgPM sources. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated activities were observed in all organic extracts of atmospheric PM from Bizerte city (388.3-1543.6 fg m-3), and shows significant positive correlations with all PM-associated organic contaminants. A significant proportion of dioxin-like activity of PM was related to PAHs. The dioxin-like activity followed the same trend as PM-associated organic contaminants, with higher dioxin-like activity in the cold season than in the warm season, indicating the advantage and utility of the use of bioassays in risk assessment of complex environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badreddine Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Hetero-Organic Compounds and Nanostructured Materials (LR18ES11), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisia.
| | - Marc Tedetti
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille, France
| | | | - Javier A Tesán Onrubia
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Aurélie Dufour
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Que Thi Doan
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, FARAH-Veterinary Public Health, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium
| | - Samiha Boutaleb
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, FARAH-Veterinary Public Health, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium
| | - Soufiane Touil
- Laboratory of Hetero-Organic Compounds and Nanostructured Materials (LR18ES11), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisia
| | - Marie-Louise Scippo
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, FARAH-Veterinary Public Health, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium
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Illuminati S, Annibaldi A, Bau S, Scarchilli C, Ciardini V, Grigioni P, Girolametti F, Vagnoni F, Scarponi G, Truzzi C. Seasonal Evolution of Size-Segregated Particulate Mercury in the Atmospheric Aerosol Over Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25173971. [PMID: 32878154 PMCID: PMC7504777 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Size-fractionated particulate mercury (PHg) measurements were performed from November 2017 to January 2018 at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica) for the first time. Samples were collected every 10 days by a six-stage high-volume cascade impactor with size classes between 10 μm and 0.49 μm. Total PHg concentrations were maxima (87 ± 8 pg m−3) in November, then decreased to values ~40% lower and remained almost constant until the end of the sampling period (~30 pg m−3). The trimodal aerosol mass distribution reveals that from 30% to 90% of the total PHg came in the size > 1.0 μm. Hg in the two coarse fractions was probably produced by the adsorption of oxidized Hg species transported by air masses from the Antarctic plateau or produced locally by sea ice edges. PHg in accumulation mode seemed to be related to gas–particle partitioning with sea salt aerosol. Finally, average dry deposition fluxes of PHg were calculated to be 0.36 ± 0.21 ng m−2 d−1 in the accumulation mode, 47 ± 44 ng m−2 d−1 in the first coarse mode, and 37 ± 31 ng m−2 d−1 in the second coarse mode. The present work contributed to the comprehension of the Hg biogeochemical cycle, but further research studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Illuminati
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (F.G.); (F.V.); (G.S.); (C.T.)
- Correspondence: (S.I.); (A.A.); Tel.: +39-071-2204981 (S.I.)
| | - Anna Annibaldi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (F.G.); (F.V.); (G.S.); (C.T.)
- Correspondence: (S.I.); (A.A.); Tel.: +39-071-2204981 (S.I.)
| | - Sébastien Bau
- Laboratory of Aerosol Metrology, Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS), Rue du Morvan, CS 60027, 54519 Vandoeuvre, France;
| | - Claudio Scarchilli
- Laboratory of Observations and Measures for The Environment and Climate, ENEA, Via Anguillarese 301, Santa Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy; (C.S.); (V.C.); (P.G.)
| | - Virginia Ciardini
- Laboratory of Observations and Measures for The Environment and Climate, ENEA, Via Anguillarese 301, Santa Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy; (C.S.); (V.C.); (P.G.)
| | - Paolo Grigioni
- Laboratory of Observations and Measures for The Environment and Climate, ENEA, Via Anguillarese 301, Santa Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy; (C.S.); (V.C.); (P.G.)
| | - Federico Girolametti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (F.G.); (F.V.); (G.S.); (C.T.)
| | - Flavio Vagnoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (F.G.); (F.V.); (G.S.); (C.T.)
| | - Giuseppe Scarponi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (F.G.); (F.V.); (G.S.); (C.T.)
| | - Cristina Truzzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (F.G.); (F.V.); (G.S.); (C.T.)
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