Abstract
The article discusses own studies’ materials of anthropogenic mercury migration in the “soil− plant − surface water- water body bottom sediments” system on the example of technogenically mercury-polluted territory of the northern industrial zone of Pavlodar city in Kazakhstan. The mercury distribution processes in soil at a depth of up to two meters, in water and bottom sediments of the Irtysh River, as well as in “Pamyat’ Azieva” soft spring wheat variety grown on soils with maximum pollution level were studied. It was discovered that the mercury migration degree to groundwater and plant objects depends on the soil type: so, it is minimal in chernozem soil. It was revealed that the mercury amount in the soil is in a positive correlation with its mineralization degree, filtration level, as well as the presence of chloride ions. The article also discusses the research results on the complex and diverse influence of predominant ions in soil, as well as their combinations on the content and distribution of mercury.
Highlights
Mercury is known to be the most dangerous toxicant due to its ability to migrate in sustainable state from atmospheric air to soil cover, vegetation, water bodies and animal organisms >1, 2@
The granulometric and microaggregate composition was determined by sieving (GOST 12536-79), nitrates content was identified by photometric method (GOST 26488-85), the content of carbonates and bicarbonates' ions was evaluated by titration with sulfuric acid solution (GOST 26424-85), chloride ions were determined by argentometric titration method with silver nitrate solution (GOST 26425-85), sulfate ions were identified by weighing method after deposition with barium chloride solution (GOST 26426-85)
There is a clear trend of mercury content decrease in soils with depth
Summary
Mercury is known to be the most dangerous toxicant due to its ability to migrate in sustainable state from atmospheric air to soil cover, vegetation, water bodies and animal organisms >1, 2@. If mercury is coated with a thick silt layer in bottom sediments, its toxicity decreases, but this process is time-consuming. Several works confirmed low mercury mobility in soils at contaminated sites >3@. The industrial zone of Pavlodar city was chosen as the territory of the study; for a long time, it has been polluted because of the Pavlodar chemical plant operation, which performs electrolytic production of chlorine and caustic soda using mercury. The processes of mercury migration in soils, plants, as well as with groundwater to water bodies were studied as the most important in terms of environmental safety and human health >2@.
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