Distribution of gaseous and particle-bound Hg concentrations at the sites representative for urban and non-urban zones of Silesia Province

Halina Pyta,Krzysztof Rajczykowski,Krzysztof Słaby,Tadeusz Sadowski,M Czaplicka,J Kyzioł-Komosińska,O Czechowski,I Sówka,M Jabłońska-Czapla,K Juda-Rezler,J Fudała,W Rogula-Kozłowska,G Majewski

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20182801030

Abstract

The basic features of the distribution of total gaseous (TGM) and particle-bound mercury (PBM) concentrations were determined for a five locations representative for urban (Bielsko-Biała, Lubliniec, Zabrze) and rural areas (Godów, Złoty Potok) of Silesia Province. Gaseous mercury concentrations were measured (1) continuously - the automatic 1h TGM measurements in Zloty Potok and Zabrze and (2) non-continuously manual 24h TGM measurements with a pre-concentration of the Hg on gold traps (Bielsko-Biała, Lubliniec, Godów). The PBM concentrations were measured non-continuously by taking PM2.5 samples. The Hg content was determined by using a CVAAS method. The highest average concentration of TGM was recorded in Zabrze (2.8ng/m3), significantly lower (2.0ng/m3) in Bielsko-Biała and in the non-urban station in Godów, the lowest concentration (<2.0 ng/m3) was observed in Lubliniec and at the regional background station in Zloty Potok. The results obtained for TGM concentrations exceeded the European average level of 1.5 ng/m3 (AirBase, 2014). The highest average PBM concentration, associated with PM2.5, was obtained in Zabrze (70pg/m3), more than 20% lower results were obtained in Bielsko-Biała and Godów, finally, the lowest one (lower by about 40% in comparison with Zabrze) were obtained in Lubliniec and Złoty Potok. Moreover, an enrichment of Hg concentration in PM was observed with the increasing of the PM content, during the heating season.

Highlights

IntroductionMercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element found in the environment in metallic form (elemental mercury Hg0 in liquid or gaseous state) or in various inorganic (mercuric chloride HgCl2, mercuric sulphide HgS, mercurous chloride HgCl) and organic compounds (methylmercury MeHg, ethylmercury EtHg)
Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element found in the environment in metallic form or in various inorganic and organic compounds
Other forms of atmospheric Hg are operationally defined as reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM)

Summary

Introduction

Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element found in the environment in metallic form (elemental mercury Hg0 in liquid or gaseous state) or in various inorganic (mercuric chloride HgCl2, mercuric sulphide HgS, mercurous chloride HgCl) and organic compounds (methylmercury MeHg, ethylmercury EtHg). Atmospheric Hg is dominated (95-99%) [1,2] by the gaseous elemental mercury (GEM, Hg0) with the background concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere from 1.3 to 1.7 ng/m3 [3]. Other forms of atmospheric Hg are operationally defined as reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM). Their concentrations are much lower (expressed in pg/m3). RGM and PBM are essential for mercury removing from the air by wet and dry deposition [1]

Methods

Results

Conclusion