Source Identification of Florida Bay's Methylmercury Problem: Mainland Runoff Versus Atmospheric Deposition and <Emphasis Type="Italic">In situ</Emphasis> Production

The first advisory to limit consumption of Florida Bay fish due to mercury was issued in 1995. Studies done by others in the late 1990s found elevated water column concentrations of both total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in creeks discharging from the Everglades, which had its own recognized mercury problem. To investigate the significance of allochthonous MeHg discharging from the upstream freshwater Everglades, we collected surface water and sediment along two transects from 2000 to 2002. Concentrations of THg and MeHg, ranging from 0.36 ng THg/L to 5.98 ng THg/L and from <0.02 ng MeHg/L to 1.79 ng MeHg/L, were elevated in the mangrove transition zone when compared both to upstream canals and the open waters of Florida Bay. Sediment concentrations ranged from 5.8 ng THg/g to 145.6 ng THg/g and from 0.05 ng MeHg/g to 5.4 ng MeHg/g, with MeHg as a percentage of THg occasionally elevated in the open bay. Methylation assays indicated that sediments from Florida Bay have the potential to methylate Hg. Assessment of mass loading suggests that canals delivering stormwater from the northern Everglades are not as large a source as direct atmospheric deposition and in situ methylation, especially within the mangrove transition zone.     

北疆积雪中溶解性砷和汞的空间分布特征及来源分析

为了解北疆积雪中砷（As）和汞（Hg）的空间分布特征及来源,基于2018年1月在北疆地区58个采样点采集的积雪样品,采用原子荧光光谱法测定积雪中溶解性砷和汞的含量,用反距离加权插值法分析空间分布特征,并利用后向轨迹模型探讨了其来源。结果表明：积雪中溶解性砷和汞的浓度分别在0.21~2.69 μg?L^-1和5.32~64.09 ng?L^-1,均低于地表水I类水质标准限值,说明积雪中砷和汞元素污染较轻。反距离加权插值法分析表明,积雪中砷和汞污染物的空间分布存在差异性,其中准噶尔盆地和天山北坡地区的浓度分布较高。结合后向轨迹聚类分析结果,推断积雪中砷和汞污染物主要来自局地活动,周边国家气团远距离传输所产生的影响较小。研究结果可为评估北疆生态环境质量及区域污染防治提供科学支持。     

Farmland mercury contamination in the vicinity of an organic chemical factory in Guizhou,China

This study assesses the level of contamination of Hg in farmland soils along the irrigating channel downstream from Guizhou Organic Chemical Factory （GOCF）, where metallic mercury is used as a catalyst to produce acetic acid. The total input of mercury into the environment, as announced by GOCF, is 140 t in the past 30 years （1971-2000）. Sampling sites were chosen based on the distance from the source of pollution--the chemical factory. A total of 39 samples were collected from the study area and analyzed for total mercury concentrations and methyl mercury concentrations. The characteristics of vertical and horizontal distributions of total mercury and methyl mercury in the study area （farmland） are described in this paper. Much attention was paid to the transformation of inorganic Hg into organic mercury species in soils as well. The results showed that the farmland has been heavily contaminated by Hg. Land cultivation activity, land utilization style and distance from the pollution source could be the dominant factors controlling the distribution of THg and MeHg. It is observed that active transformation of inorganic Hg into organic mercury species （MeHg） usually takes place in paddy soils.     

Behavior of mercury in an urban river and its accumulation in aquatic plants

The characteristics of mercury in the aquatic environment have been intensively studied in mining areas with heavy mercury pollution but little work has been conducted in urban areas, with no significant Hg source. This paper presents a study of the Haihe River, which flows through an urban area in North China. The concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in the river water were 3.6–31.2 and 0.12–3.21 ng/l, and the corresponding values in river sediment were 22.9–374.8 and 0.03–0.46 μg/kg. These values are lower than the reported values from mining areas. The THg concentration in sediment samples collected from the urban areas was higher than that from the rural areas and the global background levels, indicating the influence of urbanization on mercury contamination. Samples of typical riparian and floating plants, reed and hornwort, were collected. Correlation analysis showed that sediment is the major source of THg and MeHg in reed and water is the major source of MeHg in hornwort. The higher bioaccumulation factor of reed indicates its higher potential to accumulate MeHg from the environment.     

Distribution and speciation of mercury in surface water in Wanshan Hg-mined areas, Guizhou Province, China

Mercury as a toxic element poses environmental concerns, especially in historically Hg-mined districts. The Wanshan Hg mine located in the eastern part of Guizhou Province, southwestern China, ranks the largest Hg-producing district in China. Mining at Wanshan was initiated in 221 B.C., but ceased in 2001. Approximately 22000 tons of Hg, 6000 tons of cinnabar and large quantities of mine-wastes had been produced at Wanshan. Significant quantities of calcines, which were piled irregularly near the old mine processing sites and retorts, continue to impact the local environments in the Wanshan area. In this study, a regional contamination of mercury in surface waters collected from the Meizixi, Dashuixi, Huandao and Gaolouping rivers, whose upstreams or branches originate from the hilly karstic area and receive drainage arising from the calcines, was investigated by determining all Hg species in a base-flow and a flood-flow season. Reactive, dissolved, particulate, and total Hg concentrations in surface water varied from 0.60 to 400 ng/L, 11 to 430 ng/L, 1.4 to 9210 ng/L, and 15 to 9260 ng/L, respectively. Total methylmercury in water samples ranges from 0.31 to 25 ng/L. The concentrations of total Hg and particulate Hg in water samples collected during the flood season are higher than those in the base-flow season, whereas, the concentrations of dissolved and reactive Hg are lower with the peak values observed in water samples collected in the base-flow season. A strong positive correlation between total Hg and particulate Hg is noticed in the water samples collected from Hg-mined areas with the proportion higher than 80%.     

Distribution and speciation of mercury in the Hongfeng Reservoir,Guizhou Province,China

The water, pore water, sediment, and fish samples were collected from the Hongfeng Reservoir in November 2003 and February 2004 in accordance with trace metal protocols. The average concentrations of total mercury （THg）, dissolved mercury （DHg）, reactive mercury, dissolved gaseous mercury, total methylmercury, and dissolved methylmercury in the water columns were 8.00, 5.70, 0.63, 0.05, 0.16, and 0.07 ng/L, respectively. THg and DHg in the water columns, THg in pore water and THg in lake sediments of the Hongfeng Reservoir showed the level of mercury in the Hongfeng Reservoir was higher than in other natural waters in the world due to the loading of a lot of waste water with relatively high concentrations of mercury, whereas methylmercury concentrations in fish （wet weight） varied from 1.73-51.00 ng/g, much lower than in most remote lakes and reservoirs reported in northern Europe and North America. Methylmercury distributions in pore water and sediments showed methylation occurred mainly in the upper several centimeters of sediment cores in the Hongfeng Reservoir. The concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, total suspended particles, total Hg, and methylmercury were higher at Houwu than those at Daba in November 2003. It is suggested that other pollutants such as N and P from fishing farm and other waste water at Houwu, which resulted in deterioration of water quality, affected the concentrations and distributions of mercury species in the reservoir.     

贡嘎山海螺沟降雪中多环芳烃的短周期分布特征及来源分析

2013年1月在贡嘎山海螺沟3个不同采样点共收集了多个雪样,利用GC-MS分析了雪样中16种优控多环芳烃的含量,探讨了多环芳烃的短周期分布特征与来源,估算了采样点与排放源的直线距离。结果显示,海螺沟各采样点雪样中多环芳烃的总含量在163.7 ng/L~281.4 ng/L之间,其中菲的含量最高。雪样中2~4环多环芳烃占多环芳烃总量的百分比为92.0%~93.7%,表明污染来自较远距离传输,但主要排放源离海螺沟的直线距离不超过357 km。将雪层与气象资料的降雪期对应,结果表明从2012年11月到2013年1月这个短周期内,海螺沟雪样受多环芳烃污染的程度没有太大变化。对海螺沟雪样中的多环芳烃进行了来源分析,结果表明海螺沟雪样中的多环芳烃主要来自煤燃烧,不排除少部分木材燃烧,这一源解析结果与海螺沟及其周边地区主要以煤炭作为燃料的能源特征相吻合。     

北极阿拉斯加春季积雪中汞的时空分布及其来源分析

开展北极雪冰中汞分布特征及其来源的探究,不仅可以丰富冰冻圈汞生物地球化学循环的认识,而且对评估北极环境中汞的潜在暴露风险具有现实意义。在2017年4月至5月对美国阿拉斯加的积雪进行大范围样品采集,探讨了该区域积雪中汞的空间分布特征及其成因、汞的沉降后过程以及潜在来源分析。研究表明：积雪中汞的空间分布受大气汞亏损事件（AMDEs）及人为源的共同影响,毗邻北冰洋海岸（如巴罗）积雪中总汞（THg）浓度较高,接近人为源的山地表层雪中THg浓度较高。巴罗雪坑中THg浓度随深度增加呈下降趋势。积雪中主要阴阳离子与THg的相关性分析表明,阿拉斯加积雪中THg的空间分布可能主要受北冰洋海盐气溶胶以及人类活动的影响。     

Mercury distribution, partitioning and speciation in coastal vs. inland High Arctic snow

Atmospheric mercury deposition on snow at springtime has been reported in polar regions, potentially posing a threat to coastal and inland ecosystems receiving meltwaters. However, the post-depositional fate of Hg in snow is not well known, and no data are available on Hg partitioning in polar snow. During snowmelt, we conducted a survey of Hg concentrations, partitioning and speciation in surface snow and at depth, over sea ice and over land along a 100 km transect across Cornwallis Island, NU, Canada. Total Hg concentrations [THg] in surface snow were low (less than 20 pmol L⁻¹) and were significantly higher in marine vs. inland environments. Particulate Hg in surface snow represented up to 90% of total Hg over sea ice and up to 59% over land. At depth, [THg] at the snow/sea ice interface (up to 300 pmol L⁻¹) were two orders of magnitude higher than at the snow/lake ice interface (ca. 2.5 pmol L⁻¹). Integrated snow columns, sampled over sea-ice and over land, showed that particulate Hg was mostly bound to particles ranging from 0.45 to 2.7 μm. Moreover, melting snowpacks over sea ice and over lake ice contribute to increase [THg] at the water/ice interfaces. This study indicates that, at the onset of snowmelt, most of the Hg in snow is in particulate form, particularly over sea ice. Low Hg levels in surface snow suggest that Hg deposited through early spring deposition events is partly lost to the atmosphere from the snowpack before snowmelt. The sea ice/snow interface may constitute a site for Hg accumulation, however. Further understanding of the cycling of mercury at the sea ice/snow and sea ice/seawater interfaces is thus warranted to fully understand how mercury enters the arctic food webs.     

Methylation of Hg downstream from the Bonanza Hg mine,Oregon

Speciation of Hg and conversion to methyl-Hg were evaluated in stream sediment, stream water, and aquatic snails collected downstream from the Bonanza Hg mine, Oregon. Total production from the Bonanza mine was >1360 t of Hg, during mining from the late 1800s to 1960, ranking it as an intermediate sized Hg mine on an international scale. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution, transport, and methylation of Hg downstream from a Hg mine in a coastal temperate climatic zone. Data shown here for methyl-Hg, a neurotoxin hazardous to humans, are the first reported for sediment and water from this area. Stream sediment collected from Foster Creek flowing downstream from the Bonanza mine contained elevated Hg concentrations that ranged from 590 to 71,000 ng/g, all of which (except the most distal sample) exceeded the probable effect concentration (PEC) of 1060 ng/g, the Hg concentration above which harmful effects are likely to be observed in sediment-dwelling organisms. Concentrations of methyl-Hg in stream sediment collected from Foster Creek varied from 11 to 62 ng/g and were highly elevated compared to regional baseline concentrations (0.11–0.82 ng/g) established in this study. Methyl-Hg concentrations in stream sediment collected in this study showed a significant correlation with total organic C (TOC, R² = 0.62), generally indicating increased methyl-Hg formation with increasing TOC in sediment. Isotopic-tracer methods indicated that several samples of Foster Creek sediment exhibited high rates of Hg-methylation. Concentrations of Hg in water collected downstream from the mine varied from 17 to 270 ng/L and were also elevated compared to baselines, but all were below the 770 ng/L Hg standard recommended by the USEPA to protect against chronic effects to aquatic wildlife. Concentrations of methyl-Hg in the water collected from Foster Creek ranged from 0.17 to 1.8 ng/L, which were elevated compared to regional baseline sites upstream and downstream from the mine that varied from <0.02 to 0.22 ng/L. Aquatic snails collected downstream from the mine were elevated in Hg indicating significant bioavailability and uptake of Hg by these snails. Results for sediment and water indicated significant methyl-Hg formation in the ecosystem downstream from the Bonanza mine, which is enhanced by the temperate climate, high precipitation in the area, and high organic matter.     

The use of oxygen isotopic ratios to identify natural and anthropogenic mercury concentrations in the Lower Brazilian Pantanal

Previous studies in the Amazon Basin and the Upper Pantanal show widespread mercury contamination of fish and water as a result of gold mining, and subsequent volatilization of mercury during the recovery process. A study was initiated to assess whether atmospheric transport of mercury to the south has resulted in elevated levels in water and fish in the Lower Pantanal. Water samples were collected from streams and rivers from the Pantanal (Mato Grosso do Sul) down into the southernmost state of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) for total Hg concentration and oxygen isotopic analyses. Based on oxygen isotopes and conductivity, surface water samples can be considered as mixtures of three endmembers: groundwater, rain and “aged” surface water. Lowest concentrations (<2 ng/L) of total Hg were observed in the northernmost samples, especially those associated with the groundwater sources. Further south, Hg concentrations tended to increase, but higher concentrations (>2 ng/L) likely reflect direct input from more localized watershed sources. Fish collected from streams in the Pantanal had extremely low concentrations of total Hg regardless of their size or feeding habit, although one large carnivorous fish (>2 kg) had concentrations approaching 400 ng/g wet wt. All concentrations, however, were considerably lower than those observed in similar species from the region of the Amazon Basin affected by gold mining.     

贵州万山汞矿区稻田土壤汞的分布及污染特征

受历史汞矿开采活动影响,万山汞矿区稻田遭受了严重的汞污染。为了查明万山汞矿区稻田土壤的汞污染现状以及评估其环境质量改善情况,系统采集了受汞矿区影响的五条主干河流沿岸稻田土壤进行汞含量分析,评价总汞和甲基汞污染程度及其生态风险,并与2008年以来该区域稻田土壤汞数据进行对比。结果表明,研究区稻田土壤的总汞含量为0.21~207 mg/kg,几何平均值为(4.26±4.83)mg/kg;甲基汞含量为0.42~13μg/kg,几何平均值为(1.81±1.93)μg/kg。59%的稻田土壤处于重度汞污染,75%的稻田土壤存在极强的汞潜在生态风险。与已往数据相比,稻田土壤汞含量在2012年后呈下降趋势,基本反映了当地汞防治措施的执行效果。为了避免稻田土壤汞污染引起的安全健康风险,今后应采取除污染源治理以外的土壤修复措施或风险管控措施。     

Mercury distribution and transport in a contaminated river system in Kazakhstan and associated impacts on aquatic biota

The River Nura in Central Kazakhstan has been heavily polluted by Hg originating from an acetaldehyde plant. A number of studies were undertaken to investigate the transport, fate and bioavailability of Hg in this river system. The sediments within a 20 km section of the river downstream of the effluent outfall canal are highly polluted and are acting as a strong source of surface water contamination. Mercury transport in the river is dominated by the remobilization of contaminated bed sediments and river bank erosion during the annual spring flood. Peak Hg concentrations in unfiltered surface water samples during a larger than usual flood event in 2004 were in the order of 1600–4300 ng L⁻¹. The majority of the particulate-bound Hg appears to be sedimented in the shallow Intumak reservoir 75 km downstream of the source of the pollution, leading to a drop in aqueous Hg concentrations by an order of magnitude. Nevertheless, background concentrations of Hg in surface water are not reached until at least 200 km downstream, and during the flood period Hg is also detected in the terminal wetlands of the river.Mercury concentrations in sediment cores taken from the river bed in the most contaminated section of the Nura ranged from 9.95 to 306 mg kg⁻¹. Methylmercury (MeHg) levels in shallow sediment cores were highest in surface sediments and ranged between 4.9 and 39 μg kg⁻¹, but were generally less than 0.1% of total Hg (THg). A significant inverse relationship was found between THg concentrations and the percentage of MeHg formed in the sediments, irrespective of the sampling depth. The observed relationship was confirmed by comparison with results from a different river system, indicating that it may be true also for other highly contaminated aquatic systems. It is hypothesized that at high THg levels in severely contaminated sediments, the accumulation of MeHg may be limited by increasingly efficient demethylation processes, and that this underlying trend in sediments is the reason why MeHg levels in surface water are often found to be higher at less contaminated sites compared to upstream sites.Mercury concentrations in biota in the most contaminated section of the river were 15–20 times higher than background levels. Fish were found to be impacted for more than 125 km downstream from the source, indicating significant transport of dissolved MeHg to downstream areas and/or in-situ MeHg production in less contaminated downstream reaches. There were also indications that impoundments may increase the bioavailability of Hg.     

内蒙古巴丹吉林沙漠400年来大气沉降 Hg的湖泊沉积记录

Hg污染具有全球性,人类活动较少地区的湖泊沉积物对长距离输入的大气沉降Hg变化敏感。巴丹吉林沙漠中发育了约142个沙漠丘间湖泊,是研究大气沉降Hg记 录的理想材料。选择巴丹吉林沙漠东南部的宝日陶勒盖湖泊进行湖泊钻探,结合²¹⁰Pb_uns和¹³⁷Cs核素测年及THg沉积通量计算,重建了400年来巴丹吉林沙漠湖泊的THg沉积记录,并探讨了影响沙漠湖泊THg沉积的影响因素,评估了自然背景和人类活动的影响。结果表明：(1)沉积物中THg含量分布范围为1.5~17.5 ng/g,富集系数和沉积通量的分布范围分别为0.3~4.5和2.9~38.9 μg/(cm²·a)。 THg含量、富集系数和沉积通量均表现为在岩心上部近几十年富集。(2)近400年来,湖泊沉积物中背景THg(THg_岩石风化)通量变化相对稳定,主要受控于附近物源供给和区域风沙活动。大气沉降THg(THg _大气)通量自20世纪30年代以来呈逐渐增加的趋势,很大程度上反映了近几十年来人为源大气沉降THg的增加。但20世纪30年代以来岩心局部的大气沉降THg通量的峰值可能还受全球变暖和湖泊生产力增加 的影响,而20世纪30年代之前出现的峰值可能与“小冰期”冷期强烈的区域风沙活动有关。巴丹吉林沙漠湖泊400年来的THg_大气沉积通量变化与全球Hg产量和冰心中的大气Hg含量变化记录一致,是沙漠 地区大气沉降THg的可信纪录。     

北京市土壤Hg污染的区域生态地球化学评价

城市土壤Hg异常/污染是中国普遍存在的重大生态环境问题。文章对北京市近1000km2范围内的地表土壤、壤中气、大气干湿沉降、大气颗粒物、大气中的Hg含量水平和空间分布模式进行了系统研究,查明北京地表土壤Hg平均含量为0.41mg/kg,大气干湿沉降物中的Hg平均含量为0.194mg/kg,壤中气Hg的平均含量为559.65ng/m3,大气颗粒物PM10和PM2.5中的Hg含量分别为0.59和0.67ng/m3,大气中的Hg平均含量为3.13ng/m3。北京市自2000年起实现了由燃煤转变为燃气的减排措施,导致干湿沉降物中的Hg沉降通量显著减少,2006年大气干湿沉降物中Hg的沉降通量1.837mg·m-2·a-1,北京市城区(近1000km2)Hg全年沉降为1837kg,空气中总Hg浓度由1998年的8.3~24.7ng/m3下降到2006年的3.13ng/m3,大气颗粒物中Hg含量由2003年的1.18ng/m3下降到2006年的0.59ng/m3(PM10)和0.67ng/m3(PM2.5),表明北京市煤改气减排措施的实施显著改善了大气环境质量。通过对土壤中Hg的存在形式研究,发现土壤中有硫化物(辰砂)及各种Hg盐(HgCl2)的含Hg矿物,Hg也可以各种吸附方式或壤中气方式存在。研究证实北京壤中气Hg与大气Hg存在显著的相关性(n=131,R=0.267,p<0.01),表明壤中气Hg是大气Hg的重要来源之一。利用2005年地表土壤总Hg与Hg释放速率的线性方程估算,土壤Hg平均释放速率为102.42ng·m-2·h-1,2005年土壤释放进大气的Hg通量为936.70kg。在查明土壤中存在大量辰砂矿物的同时,还分布有大量具有高温熔融特征的金属微球粒和玻璃质微球粒,证明燃煤和冶金烟尘是地表土壤Hg的主要来源。土壤中Hg、S、pH和辰砂颗粒浓度在空间上的高度耦合性表明,碱性条件下,土壤中高含量的S和Hg是辰砂形成的重要原因。按国家土壤环境质量标准,北京市I级土壤Hg环境质量的面积为176km2,Ⅱ级为808km2,Ⅲ级为24km2,超Ⅲ为36km2。Ⅲ级、超Ⅲ级主要分布在二环路以内的中心城区。城南(长安街为界)大气Hg环境质量明显优于城北,在北四、北五环之间的部分地区,大气颗粒Hg的环境质量为Ⅲ级或超Ⅲ级。在地表土壤Hg含量较高的中心城区,居民每天因呼吸摄入的Hg高达364ng,对人体健康构成潜在风险。根据我国"十一五"规划中每年实现10%节能减排的目标,对北京市未来50年土壤Hg含量的时空演变趋势预测,预测2050年北京因干湿沉降带来的Hg输入量为16.03kg,地表土壤释放Hg的输出量为37.36kg,明显大于Hg的输入通量,土壤Hg的环境质量将得到根本改善。预测到2040年Ⅲ级土壤Hg环境质量的区域将完全消失,到2060年以Ⅰ级土壤为主。     

Mercury in soil near a long-term air emission source in southeastern Idaho

At the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in southeastern Idaho, a 500 °C fluidized bed calciner was intermittently operated for 37 years, with measured Hg emission rates of 9-11 g/h. Surface soil was sampled at 57 locations around the facility to determine the spatial distribution of Hg fallout and surface Hg variability, and to predict the total residual Hg mass in the soil from historical emissions. Measured soil concentrations were slightly higher (p<0.05) within 5 km of the source but were overall very low (15-20 ng/g) compared to background Hg levels published for similar soils in the USA (50-70 ng/g). Concentrations decreased 4%/cm with depth and were found to be twice as high under shrubs and in depressions. Mass balance calculations accounted for only 2.5-20% of the estimated total Hg emitted over the 37-year calciner operating history. These results suggest that much of the Hg deposited from calciner operations may have been reduced in the soil and re-emitted as Hg(0) to the global atmospheric pool.     

Mercury and methylmercury in riparian soil,sediments, mine-waste calcines,and moss from abandoned Hg mines in east Guizhou province,southwestern China

Concentrations of total Hg and methylmercury (MMHg) in riparian soil, mine-waste calcine, sediment, and moss samples collected from abandoned Hg mines in Wanshan district, Guizhou province, China, were measured to show regional dispersion of Hg-contamination. High total Hg and MMHg concentrations obtained in riparian soils from mined areas, ranged from 5.1 to 790 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.13 to 15 ng g⁻¹, respectively. However, total Hg and MMHg concentrations in the soils collected from control sites were significantly lower varying from 0.1 to 1.2 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.10 to 1.6 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Total Hg and MMHg concentrations in sediments varied from 90 to 930 mg kg⁻¹ and 3.0 to 20 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Total Hg concentrations in mine-waste calcines were highly elevated ranging from 5.7 to 4400 mg kg⁻¹, but MMHg concentrations were generally low ranging from 0.17 to 1.1 ng g⁻¹. Similar to the high Hg concentrations in soil and sediments, moss samples collected from rocks ranged from 1.0 to 95 mg kg⁻¹ in total Hg and from 0.21 to 20 ng g⁻¹ in MMHg. Elevated Hg concentrations in mosses suggest that atmospheric deposition might be an important pathway of Hg to the local terrestrial system. Moreover, the spatial distribution patterns of Hg contamination in the local environment suggest derivation from historic Hg mining sites in the Wanshan area.     

Mercury and methylmercury in water and sediment of the Sacramento River Basin, California

Mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (CH₃Hg⁺) concentrations in streambed sediment and water were determined at 27 locations throughout the Sacramento River Basin, CA. Mercury in sediment was elevated at locations downstream of either Hg mining or Au mining activities where Hg was used in the recovery of Au. Methylmercury in sediment was highest (2.84 ng/g) at a location with the greatest wetland land cover, in spite of lower total Hg at that site relative to other river sites. Mercury in unfiltered water was measured at 4 locations on the Sacramento River and at tributaries draining the mining regions, as well as agricultural regions. The highest levels of Hg in unfiltered water (2248 ng/l) were measured at a site downstream of a historic Hg mining area, and the highest levels at all sites were measured in samples collected during high streamflow when the levels of suspended sediment were also elevated. Mercury in unfiltered water exceeded the current federal and state recommended criterion for protection of aquatic life (50 ng/l as total Hg in unfiltered water) only during high streamflow conditions. The highest loading of Hg to the San Francisco Bay system was attributed to sources within the Cache Creek watershed, which are downstream of historic Hg mines, and to an unknown source or sources to the mainstem of the Sacramento River upstream of historic Au mining regions. That unknown source is possibly associated with a volcanic deposit. Methylmercury concentrations also were dependent on season and hydrologic conditions. The highest levels (1.98 ng/l) in the Sacramento River, during the period of study, were measured during a major flood event. The reactivity of Hg in unfiltered water was assessed by measuring the amount available for reaction by a strong reducing agent. Although most Hg was found to be nonreactive, the highest reactivity (7.8% of the total Hg in water) was measured in the sample collected from the same site with high CH₃Hg⁺ in sediment, and during the time of year when that site was under continual flooded conditions. Although Hg concentrations in water downstream of the Hg mining operations were measured as high as 2248 ng/l during stormwater runoff events, the transported Hg was found to have a low potential for geochemical transformations, as indicated by the low reactivity to the reducing agent (0.0001% of the total), probably because most of the Hg in the unfiltered water sample was in the mercury sulfide form.     

贵州省普定水库水体及沉积物孔隙水中汞的含量和形态分布初步研究

为了弄清楚普定水库汞的地球化学循环特征,用金汞齐-冷原子荧光光谱法(CVAFS)和气相色谱技术(GC), 研究了乌江流域上游普定水库水体剖面和沉积物间隙水剖面汞的赋存形态(总汞 THg)、溶解态汞(DHg)、活性汞(RHg)、颗粒态汞(PHg)、总甲基汞(TMeHg)、溶解态甲基汞(DMeHg)和颗粒态甲基汞(PMeHg)的分布特征.结果显示,普定水库水体总汞浓度为1.29～3.18 ng/L, 活性汞浓度为0.09～0.43 ng/L, 总甲基汞浓度为0.06～0.18 ng/L.沉积物间隙水中溶解态汞浓度为2.65 ～11.47 ng/L, 溶解态甲基汞浓度为0.06 ～1.16 ng/L.实验数据表明,普定水库水体中溶解态汞和颗粒态含量相当,其中颗粒态汞占总汞的比例为46%,并与总汞存在极显著相关性(R=0.929,n=20,P＜0.01),溶解态汞与总汞相关性不明显(R=-0.067,n=20);冬季普定水库甲基汞以溶解态甲基汞为主,溶解态甲基汞占总甲基汞的比例为63%,溶解态甲基汞与总甲基汞无明显相关关系(R=0.292,n=20),颗粒态甲基汞与总甲基汞存在极显著的相关性(R=0.815,n=20,P＜0.01).试验数据表明沉积物孔隙水溶解态汞与溶解态甲基汞浓度明显高于上覆水体, 是普定水库水体中汞的一个重要来源.     

Mercury pollution from artisanal mercury mining in Tongren, Guizhou, China

Concentrations of total Hg (T-Hg) were measured in mine waste, stream water, soil and moss samples collected from the Tongren area, Guizhou, China to identify potential Hg contamination to local environments, which has resulted from artisanal Hg mining. Mine waste contained high T-Hg concentrations, ranging from 1.8 to 900 mg/kg. High concentrations of Hg were also found in the leachates of mine waste, confirming that mine waste contains significant water-soluble Hg compounds. Total Hg distribution patterns in soil profiles showed that top soil is contaminated with Hg, which has been derived from atmospheric deposition. Data suggest that organic matter plays an important role in the binding and transport of Hg in soil. Elevated T-Hg concentrations (5.9–44 mg/kg) in moss samples suggest that atmospheric deposition is the dominant source of Hg to local terrestrial ecosystems. Concentrations of T-Hg were highly elevated in stream water samples, varying from 92 to 2300 ng/L. Particulate Hg in water constituted a large proportion of the T-Hg and played a major role in Hg transport. Methyl–Hg (Me–Hg) concentrations in the water samples was as high as 7.9 ng/L. Data indicate that Hg contamination is dominantly from artisanal Hg mining in the study area, but the extent of Hg contamination is dependent on the mining history and the scale of artisanal Hg mining.