Abstract
Size-fractionated particulate mercury (PHg) measurements were performed from November 2017 to January 2018 at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica) for the first time. Samples were collected every 10 days by a six-stage high-volume cascade impactor with size classes between 10 μm and 0.49 μm. Total PHg concentrations were maxima (87 ± 8 pg m−3) in November, then decreased to values ~40% lower and remained almost constant until the end of the sampling period (~30 pg m−3). The trimodal aerosol mass distribution reveals that from 30% to 90% of the total PHg came in the size > 1.0 μm. Hg in the two coarse fractions was probably produced by the adsorption of oxidized Hg species transported by air masses from the Antarctic plateau or produced locally by sea ice edges. PHg in accumulation mode seemed to be related to gas–particle partitioning with sea salt aerosol. Finally, average dry deposition fluxes of PHg were calculated to be 0.36 ± 0.21 ng m−2 d−1 in the accumulation mode, 47 ± 44 ng m−2 d−1 in the first coarse mode, and 37 ± 31 ng m−2 d−1 in the second coarse mode. The present work contributed to the comprehension of the Hg biogeochemical cycle, but further research studies are needed.
Highlights
Mercury (Hg) is an element naturally occurring in the Earth
The remedial actions applied by North America and the European Union have resulted in modest decreases in emissions, probably because of the increase of economic activity and the use of mercury-added products that have offset any efforts to reduce mercury emissions
It can be noted that the correction computed for standard air is negligible if compared with the precision in the volume sampled (±10%)
Summary
Mercury (Hg) is an element naturally occurring in the Earth. This metal continues to be of high concern due to its intrinsic characteristic, e.g., volatility, mobility, persistence, and strong tendency to bioaccumulate in food chains. Sources of mercury in the atmosphere are both natural (volcanoes, forest fire, geothermal vents, evaporation from soil and waters) and anthropogenic In 2015, about 2220 tons of mercury were emitted in the air from 17 key sectors worldwide. These emissions are 20% higher than those estimated for 2010. The remedial actions applied by North America and the European Union have resulted in modest decreases in emissions, probably because of the increase of economic activity (especially in Asia) and the use of mercury-added products that have offset any efforts to reduce mercury emissions
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