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Male YT, Reichelt-Brushett A, Burton ED, Nanlohy A. Assessment of mercury distribution and bioavailability from informal coastal cinnabar mining - Risk to the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 199:116047. [PMID: 38237248 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116047] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Coastal cinnabar mining commenced in 2010 around Luhu on Seram (Ceram) Island, Indonesia. This study investigates the ore characteristics and environmental distribution and bioavailability of mercury in coastal sediments from eight sites adjacent to, and north and south of the mining area. Sediment and ore samples were digested using 1:3 HNO3:HCl for total extractable metal determination and separate samples were extracted with 1.0 HCl for bioavailable metals (Hg, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni and Pb). Analysis was completed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Ore defined by miners as 'first class ore' was around 50 % cinnabar. Mercury concentrations were extremely elevated in near coastal sediments (up to 2796 mg/kg) with bioavailable concentrations exceeding 450 mg/kg. Marine sediments elevated in mercury extend to the north and south of the coastal mine site and cover in excess of 14 km. Total organic carbon in marine sediments was relatively low (predominately <0.6 %) suggesting mercury methylation will likely be slow, however, inorganic mercury is a known toxicant. Other metals of environmental concern (Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni and Pb) in sediments were not strongly associated with the mining operations, rather were elevated around coastal villages, but not at concentrations that raise immediate concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusthinus Tobias Male
- Department Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia
| | | | - Edward D Burton
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
| | - Alberth Nanlohy
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, University of Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia
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2
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Zhang C, Xia T, Zhang L, Chen Z, Zhang H, Jia X, Jia L, Zhu X, Li G. Mercury pollution risks of agricultural soils and crops in mercury mining areas in Guizhou Province, China: effects of large mercury slag piles. Environ Geochem Health 2024; 46:53. [PMID: 38245580 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01841-z] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The historical large mercury slag piles still contain high concentrations of mercury and their impact on the surrounding environment has rarely been reported. In this study, three different agricultural areas [the area with untreated piles (PUT), the area with treated piles (PT), and the background area with no piles (NP)] were selected to investigate mercury slag piles pollution in the Tongren mercury mining area. The mercury concentrations of agricultural soils ranged from 0.42 to 155.00 mg/kg, determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry of 146 soil samples; and mercury concentrations in local crops (rice, maize, pepper, eggplant, tomato and bean) all exceeded the Chinese food safety limits. Soil and crop pollution trends in the three areas were consistent as PUT > PT > NP, indicating that mercury slag piles have exacerbated pollution. Mercury in the slag piles was adsorbed by multiple pathways of transport into soils with high organic matter, which made the ecological risk of agricultural soils appear extremely high. The total hazard quotients for residents from ingesting mercury in these crops were unacceptable in all areas, and children were more likely to be harmed than adults. Compared to the PT area, treatment of slag piles in the PUT area may decrease mercury concentrations in paddy fields and dry fields by 46.02% and 70.36%; further decreasing health risks for adults and children by 47.06% and 79.90%. This study provided a scientific basis for the necessity of treating large slag piles in mercury mining areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Tianxiang Xia
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China.
| | - Lina Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China.
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Zhuo Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Haonan Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xiaoyang Jia
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Lin Jia
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Key Laboratory for Risk Modeling and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Guangbing Li
- Tongren Environmental Science and Technology Consulting Center, Tongren, 554399, China
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Jin X, Yan J, Ali MU, Li Q, Li P. Mercury Biogeochemical Cycle in Yanwuping Hg Mine and Source Apportionment by Hg Isotopes. Toxics 2023; 11:toxics11050456. [PMID: 37235270 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11050456] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Although mercury (Hg) mining activities in the Wanshan area have ceased, mine wastes remain the primary source of Hg pollution in the local environment. To prevent and control Hg pollution, it is crucial to estimate the contribution of Hg contamination from mine wastes. This study aimed to investigate Hg pollution in the mine wastes, river water, air, and paddy fields around the Yanwuping Mine and to quantify the pollution sources using the Hg isotopes approach. The Hg contamination at the study site was still severe, and the total Hg concentrations in the mine wastes ranged from 1.60 to 358 mg/kg. The binary mixing model showed that, concerning the relative contributions of the mine wastes to the river water, dissolved Hg and particulate Hg were 48.6% and 90.5%, respectively. The mine wastes directly contributed 89.3% to the river water Hg contamination, which was the main Hg pollution source in the surface water. The ternary mixing model showed that the contribution was highest from the river water to paddy soil and that the mean contribution was 46.3%. In addition to mine wastes, paddy soil is also impacted by domestic sources, with a boundary of 5.5 km to the river source. This study demonstrated that Hg isotopes can be used as an effective tool for tracing environmental Hg contamination in typical Hg-polluted areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingang Jin
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Area and Protection of Ecological Environment of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Junyao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Muhammad Ubaid Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Qiuhua Li
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Area and Protection of Ecological Environment of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
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Peng H, Rong Y, Chen D, Sun R, Huang J, Ding H, Olid C, Yan H. Anthropogenic activity and millennial climate variability affect Holocene mercury deposition of an alpine wetland near the largest mercury mine in China. Chemosphere 2023; 316:137855. [PMID: 36642145 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137855] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a potentially toxic element that can be transported globally through the atmosphere, once deposited in the environment, has strong bioaccumulation and extreme toxicity in food webs, especially in wetland ecosystems. Anthropogenic Hg emissions have enhanced Hg deposition by 3-5 times since the industrial revolution, and the mining and smelting of Hg ore are important emission sources. However, the dynamics in Hg deposition around the largest Hg mine in China before the industrial revolution and their driving forces remain poorly explored. Here we reconstruct the atmospheric Hg depositional fluxes (named here Hg influx (Hginflux)) during the Holocene using a 450-cm alpine wetland sediment core taken from the Jiulongchi wetland, which is only 65 km to the Wanshan Mercury Mine. Our record shows an abrupt rapid increase in Hg concentration since 2500 cal yr BP, suggesting that Hg mining in southwest China may have started before the establishment of the Qin dynasty. Two major Hginflux peaks were found during the periods 10,000-6000 and 6000 - 3800 cal yr BP, with an increase in Hg deposition by a factor of 4-8. These two peaks are also found in other terrestrial archives from several sites across the Northern Hemisphere. We speculate that critical millennial-scale climate changes, i.e., the Holocene Climatic Optimum (HCO) and the Mid-Holocene Transition (MHT), were the potential triggers of these two Hginflux peaks. This study highlights the importance of climatic variability and local Hg mining in controlling atmospheric Hg deposition during the Holocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China.
| | - Yimeng Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Di Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ruiyang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hanwei Ding
- 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
| | - Carolina Olid
- UB-Geomodels Research Institute, Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i l'Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Haiyu Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
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Wang J, Man Y, Yin R, Feng X. Isotopic and Spectroscopic Investigation of Mercury Accumulation in Houttuynia cordata Colonizing Historically Contaminated Soil. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:7997-8007. [PMID: 35618674 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata) is a native vegetable colonizing mercury (Hg) mining sites in the southwest of China; it can accumulate high Hg concentrations in the rhizomes and roots (edible sections), and thus consumption of H. cordata represents an important Hg exposure source to human. Here, we studied the spatial distribution, chemical speciation, and stable isotope compositions of Hg in the soil-H. cordata system at the Wuchuan Hg mining region in China, aiming to provide essential knowledge for assessing Hg risks and managing the transfer of Hg from soils to plants and agricultural systems. Mercury was mainly compartmentalized in the outlayer (periderm) of the underground tissues, with little Hg being translocated to the vascular bundle of the stem. Mercury presented as Hg-thiolates (94% ± 8%), with minor fractional amount of nanoparticulate β-HgS (β-HgSNP, 15% ± 4%), in the roots and rhizomes. Analysis of Hg stable isotope ratios showed that cysteine-extractable soil Hg pool (δ202Hgcys), root and rhizome Hg (δ202Hgroot, δ202Hgrhizome) were isotopically lighter than Hg in the bulk soils. A significant positive correlation between δ202Hgcys and δ202Hgroot was observed, suggesting that cysteine-extractable soil Hg pool was an important Hg source to H. cordata. The slightly positive Δ199Hg value in the plant (Δ199Hgroot = 0.07 ± 0.07‰, 2SD, n = 21; Δ199Hgrhizome = 0.06 ± 0.06‰, 2SD, n = 22) indicated that minor Hg was sourced from the surface water. Our results are important to assess the risks of Hg in H. cordata, and to develop sustainable methods to manage the transfer of Hg from soils to agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550082, China
| | - Yi Man
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550082, China
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550082, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550082, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China
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6
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Camacho-delaCruz AA, Espinosa-Reyes G, Rebolloso-Hernández CA, Carrizales-Yáñez L, Ilizaliturri-Hernández CA, Reyes-Arreguín LE, Díaz-Barriga F. Holistic health risk assessment in an artisanal mercury mining region in Mexico. Environ Monit Assess 2021; 193:541. [PMID: 34331600 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09312-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mexico is one of the world's leading mercury producers and exporters. However, mercury mining is carried out using artisanal procedures, which highly impact ecosystems. In the municipality of Pinal de Amoles, Queretaro, Mexico, artisanal mercury mining (AMM) is practiced in a region that has been categorized as a Biosphere Reserve. Therefore, a holistic health risk assessment for mercury was performed in the region, including environmental monitoring (air, water, and soil) and mercury exposure in both humans (children, women, and miners) and biota (plants, rodents, and worms). The atmospheric mercury determination was carried out using the JEROME® J405 analyzer, whereas total mercury in environmental and biological samples was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry/cold vapor. Results showed that mercury concentrations in the environmental and biological matrices exceeded their respective reference values. These results demonstrate the direct influence of AMM in the increasing levels of mercury in all the components of the studied ecosystem. Therefore, comprehensive intervention strategies must be implemented to reduce and prevent human health and ecological risks due to the presence of mercury. In this regard, the Minamata Convention for mercury control should include biomonitoring programs not only for humans but also for critical ecological receptors in polluted ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlette A Camacho-delaCruz
- Facultad de Medicina-Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Sierra Leona No. 550, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, C.P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
| | - Guillermo Espinosa-Reyes
- Facultad de Medicina-Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Sierra Leona No. 550, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, C.P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México.
| | - Carlos A Rebolloso-Hernández
- Facultad de Medicina-Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Sierra Leona No. 550, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, C.P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
| | - Leticia Carrizales-Yáñez
- Facultad de Medicina-Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Sierra Leona No. 550, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, C.P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
| | - César A Ilizaliturri-Hernández
- Facultad de Medicina-Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Sierra Leona No. 550, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, C.P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
| | - Luis E Reyes-Arreguín
- Facultad de Medicina-Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Sierra Leona No. 550, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, C.P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
| | - Fernando Díaz-Barriga
- Facultad de Medicina-Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Sierra Leona No. 550, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, C.P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
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7
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Jiang Y, Li H, Chen R, Liu W, Chen C, Li Z, Liu W. Novel fluorescent probe based on dicoumarin for rapid on-site detection of Hg 2+ in loess. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2021; 251:119438. [PMID: 33461142 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.119438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
It is momentous to exploit rapid, specific and on-site detection methods for mercury ion (Hg2+) in loess, as the severe toxicity of Hg2+ and the fragile ecological environment of Loess Plateau. In this paper, a novel fluorescent probe DC-Hg (Dicoumarin-Hg) was synthesized by 3-hydroxybiscoumarin and phenyl thiochloroformate at room temperature. DC-Hg could exclusively combine with Hg2+ to 'turn-on' yellow fluorescence at 530 nm among various other metal ions. The relationship between the remarkable increase in intensity and concentration of Hg2+ was associated with photoinduced electron transfer (PET), which was founded by Job's plot and 1H NMR. The limit detection of DC-Hg showed to 85.25 nM in aqueous medium, which could be applied to varying situations. For the loess samples, they were only extracted by hand-shake and filtration for quickly complete the treatment operation on site, and the results proved that DC-Hg could satisfactorily detect the Hg2+ in mercury pollution areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhong Jiang
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Huiwen Li
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Ruofei Chen
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Wei Liu
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Chunyang Chen
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Zhongguo Li
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Weisheng Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
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Wang Y, Chen Z, Wu Y, Zhong H. Comparison of methylmercury accumulation in wheat and rice grown in straw-amended paddy soil. Sci Total Environ 2019; 697:134143. [PMID: 31476499 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Paddy soil is a key area of methylmercury (MeHg) production and is dominated by fluctuating redox conditions following rice plant growth or rice-wheat rotation planting in eastern and southern Asia. The role of organic matter in the formation of MeHg under these biogeochemical redox cycles remains poorly understood, especially in certain mercury (Hg)-contaminated paddy soils. Here, we provide a detailed understanding of the formation of MeHg and its accumulation in crops (i.e., wheat and rice) in rice-wheat rotation systems under straw return. Two series of experiments, pot and microcosm experiments, were performed using Hg-contaminated paddy soil with 1% (w/w) wheat or rice straw addition under aerobic or anoxic conditions. The results showed that straw amendments increased MeHg levels in wheat (by 225%) and rice (by 20%) grains, most likely due to the elevated soil MeHg following straw amendment. Microcosm experiments further confirmed that fresh straw-derived organic matter enhances MeHg net production in soil through an overall increase in the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), particularly under anoxic conditions. Our study clearly demonstrated that straw amendment enhanced MeHg accumulation in wheat and rice grains and highlighted that straw return in Hg-contaminated soils may increase the health risk of MeHg exposure to local residents via crop consumption. Thus, some guidance should be provided for crop residue return in rice-wheat rotation system farming practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Zongya Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550002, PR China
| | - Yonggui Wu
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550002, PR China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Environmental and Life Sciences Program (EnLS), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
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9
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Wang C, Song Z, Li Z, Zhu W, Li P, Feng X. Mercury speciation and mobility in salt slurry and soils from an abandoned chlor-alkali plant, Southwest China. Sci Total Environ 2019; 652:900-906. [PMID: 30380496 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Chlor-alkali plants (CAPs) are major consumers of mercury (Hg) and may be a source of severe Hg pollution to the environment. In this paper, the total mercury (THg) concentrations and the speciation and mobility of Hg were measured in salt slurry and soils collected from an abandoned CAP in Yunnan Province, China. THg concentrations in the salt slurry samples varied widely and ranged from 0.43 to 2640 mg/kg; THg concentrations varied vertically and were lower towards the surface than deeper in the profile. In the soils, a sample collected from electrolysis workshop had the highest THg concentration (3650 mg/kg). The main fractions of Hg in the salt slurry and soils were Hg2+ and Hg0, which accounted for 47.4% and 22.9% of THg in the salt slurry and 28.0% and 43.8% of THg in the soils on average, respectively. The Hg0 concentrations decreased with depth in the soil profiles. The total soluble Hg (TSHg) concentrations in the salt slurry averaged at 140 μg/L and ranged from 0.77 to 564 μg/L. The salt slurry and soils at the study site were seriously contaminated with Hg, which could potentially be released to the atmosphere or water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan 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
| | - Zhengcheng Song
- Key Laboratory of Karst Environment and Geohazard Prevention, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550003, China
| | - Zhonggen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- 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.
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
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Xu X, Gu C, Feng X, Qiu G, Shang L, Xu Z, Lu Q, Xiao D, Wang H, Lin Y, Larssen T. Weir building: A potential cost-effective method for reducing mercury leaching from abandoned mining tailings. Sci Total Environ 2019; 651:171-178. [PMID: 30227287 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To mitigate mercury (Hg) pollution and reduce Hg downstream transportation, a weir was designed by a river system that had been inflicted by leachate from the slagheap of the Yanwuping Hg mine in Wanshan Hg mining area. A whole year monitoring of Hg species was conducted, and the efficiency of Hg reduction by the weir application was evaluated. The Hg concentrations in the river water were significantly higher in the wet season than in the dry season. Waterflow was confirmed to be the main driving factor for Hg mobilization and transportation, and an episode study revealed that most Hg was released in times of storms. Increased monitoring and preventive maintenance measures need to be taken on barriers in advance of storms. A large proportion of the total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) is associated to particles. During the study period, approximately 412 g THg and 4.04 g total MeHg (TMeHg) were released from the YMM slagheap, of which 167 g THg and 1.15 g TMeHg were retained by the weir. Annually, 40.4% THg and 38.4% TMeHg was retained by the weir. Weir construction is considered as a potential cost-effective measure to mitigate Hg in river water and should be promoted and extended in the future after optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - Chunhao Gu
- 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
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Lihai Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, 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
| | - Qinhui Lu
- 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
| | - Dean Xiao
- Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550003, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yan Lin
- College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
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Qian X, Wu Y, Zhou H, Xu X, Xu Z, Shang L, Qiu G. Total mercury and methylmercury accumulation in wild plants grown at wastelands composed of mine tailings: Insights into potential candidates for phytoremediation. Environ Pollut 2018; 239:757-767. [PMID: 29729617 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MMHg) were investigated in 259 wild plants belonging to 49 species in 29 families that grew in heavily Hg-contaminated wastelands composed of cinnabar ore mine tailings (calcines) in the Wanshan region, southwestern China, the world's third largest Hg mining district. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of THg and MMHg from soil to roots ([THg]root/[THg]soil, [MMHg]root/[MMHg]soil) were evaluated. The results showed that THg and MMHg in both plants and soils varied widely, with ranges of 0.076-140 μg/g THg and 0.19-87 ng/g MMHg in roots, 0.19-106 μg/g THg and 0.06-31 ng/g MMHg in shoots, and 0.74-1440 μg/g THg and 0.41-820 ng/g MMHg in soil. Among all investigated species, Arthraxon hispidus, Eremochloa ciliaris, Clerodendrum bunge, and Ixeris sonchifolia had significantly elevated concentrations of THg in shoots and/or roots that reached 100 μg/g, whereas Chenopodium glaucum, Corydalisedulis maxim, and Rumex acetosa contained low values below 0.5 μg/g. In addition to the high THg concentrations, the fern E. ciliaris also showed high BCF values for both THg and MMHg exceeding 1.0, suggesting its capability to extract Hg from soils. Considering its dominance and the tolerance identified in the present study, E. ciliaris is suggested to be a practical candidate for phytoextraction, whereas A. hispidus is identified as a potential candidate for phytostabilization of Hg mining-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Qian
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550003, PR China
| | - Yonggui Wu
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550003, PR China
| | - Hongyun Zhou
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550003, PR China
| | - Xiaohang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, PR China
| | - Zhidong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, PR China
| | - Lihai Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, PR China
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, PR China.
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Yin D, He T, Yin R, Zeng L. Effects of soil properties on production and bioaccumulation of methylmercury in rice paddies at a mercury mining area, China. J Environ Sci (China) 2018; 68:194-205. [PMID: 29908739 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2018.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Rice paddy soil is recognized as the hotspot of mercury (Hg) methylation, which is mainly a biotic process mediated by many abiotic factors. In this study, effects of key soil properties on the production and bioaccumulation of Hg and methylmercury (MeHg) in Hg-contaminated rice paddies were investigated. Rice and soil samples were collected from the active Hg smelting site and abandoned Hg mining sites (a total of 124 paddy fields) in the Wanshan Mercury Mine, China. Total Hg (THg) and MeHg in soils and rice grains, together with sulfur (S), selenium (Se), organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), mineral compositions (e.g., SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3) and pH in soils were quantified. The results showed that long-term Hg mining activities had resulted in THg and MeHg contaminations in soil-rice system. The newly-deposited atmospheric Hg was more readily methylated relative to the native Hg already in soils, which could be responsible for the elevated MeHg levels in soils and rice grains around the active artificial Hg smelting site. The MeHg concentrations in soils and rice grains showed a significantly negative relationship with soil N/Hg, S/Hg and OM/Hg ratio possibly due to the formation of low-bioavailability Hg-S(N)-OM complexes in rhizosphere. The Hg-Se antagonism undoubtedly occurred in soil-rice system, while its role in bioaccumulation of MeHg in the MeHg-contaminated rice paddies was minor. However, other soil properties showed less influence on the production and bioaccumulation of MeHg in rice paddies located at the Wanshan Mercury Mine zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deliang Yin
- The Key Laboratory of Karst Environment and Geohazard Prevention, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550003, China; College of Resources and Environments, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Tianrong He
- The Key Laboratory of Karst Environment and Geohazard Prevention, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550003, China.
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Lingxia Zeng
- The Key Laboratory of Karst Environment and Geohazard Prevention, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550003, China
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Du B, Li P, Feng X, Qiu G, Zhou J, Maurice L. Mercury Exposure in Children of the Wanshan Mercury Mining Area, Guizhou, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2016; 13:E1107. [PMID: 27834827 PMCID: PMC5129317 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13111107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the mercury (Hg) exposure level of children located in a Hg mining area, total Hg concentrations and speciation were determined in hair and urine samples of children in the Wanshan Hg mining area, Guizhou Province, China. Rice samples consumed by these same children were also collected for total mercury (THg) and methyl-mercury (MeHg) analysis. The geometric mean concentrations of THg and MeHg in the hair samples were 1.4 (range 0.50-6.0) μg/g and 1.1 (range 0.35-4.2) μg/g, respectively, while the geometric mean concentration of urine Hg (UHg) was 1.4 (range 0.09-26) μg/g Creatinine (Cr). The average of the probable daily intake (PDI) of MeHg via rice consumption was 0.052 (0.0033-0.39) µg/kg/day, which significantly correlated with the hair MeHg concentrations (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), indicating that ingestion of rice is the main pathway of MeHg exposure for children in this area. Furthermore, 18% (26/141) of the PDIs of MeHg exceeded the USEPA Reference Dose (RfD) of 0.10 µg/kg/day, indicating that children in this area are at a high MeHg exposure level. This paper for the first time evaluates the co-exposure levels of IHg and MeHg of children living in Wanshan mining area, and revealed the difference in exposure patterns between children and adults in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buyun Du
- 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.
| | - Ping Li
- 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.
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China.
| | - Jun Zhou
- Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Laurence Maurice
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, IRD-CNRS-Université Toulouse, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse 31400, France.
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Lespes G, Zuliani T, Schaumlöffel D. Need for revisiting the terminology about speciation. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016; 23:15767-15770. [PMID: 27301439 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6922-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
ᅟThe term speciation is used for over 30 years, with different meanings. In the early 2000s, a reference definition was proposed. The elemental distribution is discussed only with respect to molecular structures. Polytatomic entities such as amorphous or crystalline structures, dispersed in a liquid or gas, or in the solid phase, are not taken into account. The distribution of the element, both at the interfaces and in the solids, is not yet considered. This editorial discusses the limitations of this definition and its consequences. The different terminologies proposed from the reference definition are also discussed. Given all these considerations, it is proposed that speciation is considered as a description of the physical and chemical characteristics of an element. This description should be given from the atomic scale of this element to the scale of the surrounding medium, in the continuum of size, from the dissolved or gaseous phase to the solid phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëtane Lespes
- UMR 5254 Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux (IPREM), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour/CNRS, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, 64053, Pau Cedex 9, France.
| | - Tea Zuliani
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dirk Schaumlöffel
- UMR 5254 Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux (IPREM), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour/CNRS, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, 64053, Pau Cedex 9, France
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Dadová J, Andráš P, Kupka J, Krnáč J, Andráš P, Hroncová E, Midula P. Mercury contamination from historical mining territory at Malachov Hg-deposit (Central Slovakia). Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016; 23:2914-27. [PMID: 26490889 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5527-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination caused by mercury is a serious problem worldwide. The study was conducted in order to identify Hg contamination in soil, technosoil from dumps, groundwater, and surface water in the surroundings of the abandoned Hg deposit of Malachov in Central Slovakia. Soil from the Malachovský brook valley was classified as cambi-soil (rendzina). The highest Hg concentrations (44.24 mg kg(-1)) were described in the soil from the mining area at the Vel'ká Studňa locality. In the groundwater, the maximal Hg content is 0.84 μg L(-1), and in the surface water it is 394 μg L(-1). The speciation study proved that in most samples, Hg occurs in the form of cinnabarite. The release of Hg into the environment as a consequence of weathering is limited.
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Li P, Feng X, Chan HM, Zhang X, Du B. Human Body Burden and Dietary Methylmercury Intake: The Relationship in a Rice-Consuming Population. Environ Sci Technol 2015; 49:9682-9689. [PMID: 26189659 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Rice can be the main route of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure for rice-consuming populations living in area where mercury (Hg) is mined. However, the current risk assessment paradigm for MeHg exposure is based on epidemiological data collected from fish-consuming populations. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between dietary MeHg intake and human body burden in a rice -consuming population from the Wanshan Hg mining area in China. Hair MeHg concentrations averaged 2.07 ± 1.79 μg/g, and the average blood MeHg concentration across the study area ranged from 2.20 to 9.36 μg/L. MeHg constituted 52.8 ± 17.5% and 71.7 ± 18.2% of total Hg (THg) on average in blood and hair samples, respectively. Blood and hair MeHg concentrations, rather than THg, can be used as a proxy of human MeHg exposure. Hair MeHg levels showed no significant monthly variation; however, hair THg can be impacted by inorganic Hg exposure. The toxicokinetic model of MeHg exposure based on fish consumption underestimated the human hair MeHg levels, and this may be a consequence of the high hair-to-blood MeHg ratio (361 ± 105) in the studied rice-consuming population. The use of risk assessment models based on fish consumption may not be appropriate for inland mining areas where rice is the staple food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- †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
| | - Hing-Man Chan
- ‡Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Xiaofeng Zhang
- §Department of Toxicology, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Buyun Du
- †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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Hagan N, Robins N, Gonzales RDE, Hsu-Kim H. Speciation and bioaccessibility of mercury in adobe bricks and dirt floors in Huancavelica, Peru. Environ Geochem Health 2015; 37:263-272. [PMID: 25169738 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-014-9644-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Huancavelica, Peru, a historic cinnabar refining site, is one of the most mercury (Hg)-contaminated urban areas in the world. Exposure is amplified because residents build their adobe brick homes from contaminated soil. The objectives of this study were to compare two Hg-leaching procedures, and their application as risk-assessment screening tools in Hg-contaminated adobe brick homes in Huancavelica. The purpose was to evaluate potential health implications, particularly for children, after ingestion of Hg-contaminated particles. Hg was measured in adobe brick and dirt floor samples from 60 households by total Hg extraction, simulated gastric fluid (GF) extraction, and sequential selective extraction (SSE), which provides more detailed data but is resource-intensive. Most of the Hg present in samples was relatively insoluble, although in some households soluble Hg species were present at concentrations that may be of concern after ingestion. A strong correlation was identified between results from simulated GF extraction of adobe bricks and dirt floors and the more soluble fractions of Hg from SSE. Simulated GF extraction data were combined with ingestion and body mass characteristics for small children to compare potential risk of ingestion of Hg-contaminated soil with current health standards. Simulated GF extraction can be used as a risk assessment screening tool for effective allocation of time and resources to households that have measurable concentrations of bioaccessible Hg. Combining simulated GF extraction data with health standards enables intervention strategies targeted at households with the greatest potential health threat from ingestion of Hg-contaminated particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Hagan
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, USA,
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Xue Z, Xue H, Jiang J, Lin B, Zeng S, Huang X, An J. Chronic atrophic gastritis in association with hair mercury level. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:11391-8. [PMID: 25119602 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2475-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore hair mercury level in association with chronic atrophic gastritis, a precancerous stage of gastric cancer (GC), and thus provide a brand new angle of view on the timely intervention of precancerous stage of GC. We recruited 149 healthy volunteers as controls and 152 patients suffering from chronic gastritis as cases. The controls denied upper gastrointestinal discomforts, and the cases were diagnosed as chronic superficial gastritis (n=68) or chronic atrophic gastritis (n=84). We utilized Mercury Automated Analyzer (NIC MA-3000) to detect hair mercury level of both healthy controls and cases of chronic gastritis. The statistic of measurement data was expressed as mean ± standard deviation, which was analyzed using Levene variance equality test and t test. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to determine associated factors affecting hair mercury levels, and multiple stepwise regression analysis was performed to deduce regression equations. Statistical significance is considered if p value is less than 0.05. The overall hair mercury level was 0.908949 ± 0.8844490 ng/g [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] in gastritis cases and 0.460198 ± 0.2712187 ng/g (mean±SD) in healthy controls; the former level was significantly higher than the latter one (p=0.000<0.01). The hair mercury level in chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup was 1.155220 ± 0.9470246 ng/g (mean ± SD) and that in chronic superficial gastritis subgroup was 0.604732 ± 0.6942509 ng/g (mean ± SD); the former level was significantly higher than the latter level (p<0.01). The hair mercury level in chronic superficial gastritis cases was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (p<0.05). The hair mercury level in chronic atrophic gastritis cases was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (p<0.01). Stratified analysis indicated that the hair mercury level in healthy controls with eating seafood was significantly higher than that in healthy controls without eating seafood (p<0.01) and that the hair mercury level in chronic atrophic gastritis cases was significantly higher than that in chronic superficial gastritis cases (p<0.01). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that eating seafood was most correlated with hair mercury level and positively correlated in the healthy controls and that the severity of gastritis was most correlated with hair mercury level and positively correlated in the gastritis cases. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that the regression equation of hair mercury level in controls could be expressed as 0.262 multiplied the value of eating seafood plus 0.434, the model that was statistically significant (p<0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis also indicated that the regression equation of hair mercury level in gastritis cases could be expressed as 0.305 multiplied the severity of gastritis, the model that was also statistically significant (p<0.01). The graphs of regression standardized residual for both controls and cases conformed to normal distribution. The main positively correlated factor affecting the hair mercury level is eating seafood in healthy people whereas the predominant positively correlated factor affecting the hair mercury level is the severity of gastritis in chronic gastritis patients. That is to say, the severity of chronic gastritis is positively correlated with the level of hair mercury. The incessantly increased level of hair mercury possibly reflects the development of gastritis from normal stomach to superficial gastritis and to atrophic gastritis. The detection of hair mercury is potentially a means to predict the severity of chronic gastritis and possibly to insinuate the environmental mercury threat to human health in terms of gastritis or even carcinogenesis.
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