Abstract
The paper presents results of the research on the dynamics of changes in the concentration of mercury in surface waters. The importance of mercury as an environmental pollutant results from specific properties of this metal, many sources of contamination, volatility, mobility, stability and high toxicity of its specific chemical forms. Samples of surface water collected from three rivers: the Bug, the Liwiec and the Muchawka were analysed. The Muchawka River flows into the Liwiec River, which in turn is a tributary of the Bug River. The technique of isotachophoresis was employed, using a solution of a biodegradable and environmentally non-toxic derivative of electrostatically stabilised silanates as the terminating electrolyte. The highest average mercury concentration of 0.89 μg/dm3 was determined in water samples collected from the Bug River in January, whereas the lowest concentration of 0.42 μg/dm3 was recorded in water collected from the Muchawka River in September.
Highlights
IntroductionThe main problem is mercury contained in water and sediment, as it occurs there in a highly toxic form and can be taken up by animals, entering the human food chain
When determining the mercury contained in surface water samples, special attention should be paid to the possible presence of ammonia
In all samples collected from surface waters for laboratory analysis, the content of mercury ranged from 0.42 μg/dm3 in September in the Muchawka River to 0.89 μg/dm3 in January in the Bug River
Summary
The main problem is mercury contained in water and sediment, as it occurs there in a highly toxic form and can be taken up by animals, entering the human food chain. The problem, consists in the fact that it is not biodegradable and forms many toxic compounds, both organic and inorganic It enters the human body in significant quantities (Giacomino et al 2017; Kwaansa-Ansah et al 2016; Kluska et al 2015; Jabłońska and Kluska 2019). Contamination with mercury and its toxic forms may cause various adverse health effects for all living organisms. They can occur both immediately after exposure or after certain time, and the latter effects are referred to as “long-term toxic effects”. Mercury compounds may interfere with most enzymatic reactions (Siudek et al 2016a, b; Borzyszkowski and Gworek 2016; Małkiewicz et al 2015)
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