Abstract
Although snow cover is studied as an efficient scavenger for atmospheric mercury (Hg), up to now little is known about Hg behaviour in urban snow cover impacted by thermal power plants (TPPs) during the winter heating season. This study is focused on quantification of Hg in the particulate phase in snow cover and estimation of atmospheric particulate Hg (HgP) depositional fluxes around urban TPPs in cities of Omsk, Kemerovo, Yurga, Tomsk (the south part of Western Siberia, Russia) to provide new insight into Hg occurrence in urban snow. The results demonstrate that the mean Hg content in the particulate phase of snow varied from 0.139 to 0.205mg kg-1, possibly depending on thermal power of TPPs and fuel type used. The estimated mean atmospheric HgP depositional fluxes ranged from 6.6 to 73.1 mg km-2 d-1. Around thermal power plants atmospheric HgP depositional flux was controlled by particulate load. Higher Hg contents in the particulate phase of snow and higher atmospheric HgP depositional fluxes observed in relation to the background values, as well as high enrichment factors determined for Hg in the particulate phase of snow relative to the mean Hg content in the Earth’s crust showed that the snow pollution with Hg is of anthropogenic origin. The coexistence of Hg and S observed for the particulate phase of snow indicated the possible presence of mercury sulfide in this phase. The parameters like Hg content in the particulate phase of snow and HgP atmospheric flux can be used as markers for the identification of coal combustion emission sources.
Highlights
Snow cover is a natural ground cover in the winter season in several regions (e.g. Siberia, Russian Far East, southern Canada, central and northern Europe) and it is an efficient scavenger of air pollutants caused by fuel combustion, emissions of industries, vehicle exhaust as well as by long-range transport events
The contents of Hg in the samples collected around thermal power plants (TPPs)-1, TPP-2 and TPP4 were statistically compared with each other (Kruskal-Wallis test, p≥0.1)
Higher Hg concentration coefficient and coefficient of load observed in relation to the background values, as well as high Hg enrichment factors determined relative to the mean Hg content in the Earth’s crust indicated the clear contribution of thermal power plants to the pollution of snow by anthropogenic HgP
Summary
Snow cover is a natural ground cover in the winter season in several regions (e.g. Siberia, Russian Far East, southern Canada, central and northern Europe) and it is an efficient scavenger of air pollutants caused by fuel combustion, emissions of industries, vehicle exhaust as well as by long-range transport events. Many studies have paid attention to Hg content and speciation in polar (Fitzgerald et al 1991; Douglas et al 2017) and mountain snow (Ferrari et al 2002; Huang et al 2014) to identify Hg sources and to obtain the information on the past and recent changes in the global cycle of this element. Some researchers (Boutron et al 1998; Gratz and Keeler 2011) indicated that Hg deposition in snow cover in polar and mountain regions could be due to long-range transport of compounds emitted from coal combustion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
