Mercury and Other Trace Metals in the Surface Soils of Ny-Ålesund, Arctic

Abstract

Mercury contamination and its rate of transformation and transport are increasing in the environment due to climatic variations. The mercury contamination is also rising in the polar ecosystems too. The present study assessed the content of mercury and other metals in the surface soils of tundra ecosystem of Ny-Alesund, Svalbard. The samples were taken during summer months of 2015–2018 as part of Indian Arctic expedition. Mercury content in the surface soils were ranged from 0.01 to 0.14 μg/g and is comparable with the earlier studies carried out in the circumpolar regions. Total mercury content in plant samples was also comparable and the mean concentration was 83.45 ng/g. The mercury content is significantly varied from site to site; however, no significant variation was found between years. The interrelationship shown by mercury and other metals indicated a common contaminant pathway. The results indicated that the metals might have influenced by the local variations in the environment especially the increased thawing of permafrost as it led to more runoff of accumulated as well as atmospherically deposited metals. Hence, more detailed studies are required to understand the effect of thawing and atmospheric conditions on the cycling of metals in the polar environment.