Soil mercury accumulation, spatial distribution and its source identification in an industrial area of the Yangtze Delta, China

Abstract

Understanding soil mercury (Hg) accumulation, spatial distribution, and its sources is crucial for effective regulation of Hg emissions. We chose a study area covering approximately 100 km2 representing one of the rapid growing industrial towns of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China, to explore soil Hg accumulation. In surface soil, total Hg ranged from 310 to 3760 μg/kg, and 53% samples exceeded the most generous Chinese soil critical value (1500 µg/kg). Hg concentration in rice ranged from 10 to 40 µg/kg, and 43% samples exceeded the regulatory critical value (20 µg/kg). Total Hg concentrations in soil profiles gradually decreased, reaching background levels up to 60 cm profile depth. Meanwhile, proportions of mobile, semi-mobile and non-mobile Hg to total Hg at every soil depth were similar, leading us to deduce that soil Hg has accumulated in this area over a long period. Total and bioavailable Hg in topsoil exhibited the highest concentrations in the center of the study area, and radially decreased towards the periphery, which might be explained by the distribution of industry and the prevailing wind. To trace the Hg sources, we selected soil and atmospheric dust samples for isotope analysis. Hg isotopic composition of surface soil (δ202Hg = −0.29 ± 0.10‰ and Δ199Hg = 0.03 ± 0.03‰) was close to that of atmospheric dust (δ202Hg = −0.54 ± 0.10‰ and Δ199Hg = 0.03 ± 0.05‰), but considerably different from Hg isotopic composition in subsoil (δ202Hg = −0.90 ± 0.09‰ and Δ199Hg = −0.04 ± 0.04‰). Thus, we speculated that atmospheric deposition could change Hg isotopic composition in topsoil. Our findings suggest that when Hg atmospheric dust deposition changes Hg levels in surface soil, soil remediation, and crop safety might be compromised.