Abstract
To determine the geochemical characteristics and contamination of soil mercury in the Mun River basin, northeast Thailand, the vertical mercury distribution patterns and mercury contamination levels in six soil profiles under different land uses are studied. A total of 240 soil samples collected from agricultural land, abandoned agricultural land, and woodland were analyzed by an RA-915M mercury analyzer to determine the total mercury (THg) content, which ranged from 0.13 to 69.40 μg∙kg−1 in the study area. In the soil cultivation layer (0–30 cm), the average content of THg in the woodland (15.89 μg∙kg−1) and the agricultural land (13.48 μg∙kg−1) were higher than that in the abandoned agricultural land (4.08 μg∙kg−1), indicating that the plants or crops could increase the content of mercury in the surface soil layer. The total organic carbon (TOC) and iron content with high positive correlations with the THg content significantly contributed to the adsorption of soil mercury. Moreover, a higher pH value in the soil and a finer grain size in soil texture can be beneficial for the enrichment of mercury. A geoaccumulation index was used to evaluate the contamination of mercury, showing that this area had a slight contamination, and a few soil sites were moderate contamination.
Highlights
Mercury (Hg) is a global contaminant due to its high toxicity, bioaccumulation, and long residence time in the atmosphere during widespread transport, adversely affecting ecosystems and human beings [1,2,3,4]
This study reported the content of total mercury, the characteristics of vertical distribution, and the
This study reported the content of total mercury, the characteristics of vertical distribution, and controlling factors of distribution behaviors in the soil around the Mun River basin, Thailand
Summary
Mercury (Hg) is a global contaminant due to its high toxicity, bioaccumulation, and long residence time in the atmosphere during widespread transport, adversely affecting ecosystems and human beings [1,2,3,4]. Soil is the sink of mercury and the source of mercury, receiving the mercury input from the environment and re-emitting the deposit of mercury to the atmosphere [9], water [10] or plants [11]. Mercury contamination in the soil can suppress crops growth or kill plants, eventually affecting human health through bioaccumulation [12,13]. Thailand has undergone industrialization and urbanization development, as well as the increasing anthropogenic pollution deposited to the soil during this process [18]. These studies have been focused on mercury pollutants in the surface soil in Thailand except for the
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: 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.
