Multimedia fate simulation of mercury in a coastal urban area based on the fugacity/aquivalence method

Abstract

Due to intensive industrial production and living activities, urban areas are the main anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emission sources. After entering the environment through exhaust gases, wastewater or waste residues, Hg can migrate and transform among different environmental compartments in various species, such as elemental mercury (Hg0), divalent mercury (Hg2+) and methylmercury (MeHg). Studies have yet to report on the multimedia behaviors of Hg in urban areas due to the complexity of the processes involved. In this study, the atmospheric Hg emission in Dalian, a coastal city in Northeast China, was estimated by an anthropogenic emission inventory, and a Level III multimedia model was constructed based on the fugacity/aquivalence method to simulate the fate of Hg in air, water, soil, sediment, vegetation and film. The total annual atmospheric emission was 9.91 t, of which coal combustion and non-coal sources accounted for 70.1 % and 29.9 %, respectively. Atmospheric emission and advection were dominated by Hg0, and aquatic emission and advection were dominated by Hg2+. The migration of air–vegetation, vegetation–soil and soil–air were three important pathways of Hg in urban areas. The model was validated by collecting local soil and vegetation samples and regional air, seawater and sediment monitoring data. The scenario simulation indicated that the local load would decrease to different extents with a 21.0 % reduction in atmospheric Hg emission by implementing the “coal-to-gas” measures. Our developed model can characterize the fate of Hg in coastal urban areas and provide a reference for control strategies.