Total Hg Deposition Research Articles

Pre-industrial and recent (1970–2010) atmospheric deposition of sulfate and mercury in snow on southern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada

Sulfate (SO42−) and mercury (Hg) are airborne pollutants transported to the Arctic where they can affect properties of the atmosphere and the health of marine or terrestrial ecosystems. Detecting trends in Arctic Hg pollution is challenging because of the short period of direct observations, particularly of actual deposition. Here, we present an updated proxy record of atmospheric SO42− and a new 40-year record of total Hg (THg) and monomethyl Hg (MeHg) deposition developed from a firn core (P2010) drilled from Penny Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada. The updated P2010 record shows stable mean SO42− levels over the past 40years, which is inconsistent with observations of declining atmospheric SO42− or snow acidity in the Arctic during the same period. A sharp THg enhancement in the P2010 core ca 1991 is tentatively attributed to the fallout from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Hekla. Although MeHg accumulation on Penny Ice Cap had remained constant since 1970, THg accumulation increased after the 1980s. This increase is not easily explained by changes in snow accumulation, marine aerosol inputs or air mass trajectories; however, a causal link may exist with the declining sea-ice cover conditions in the Baffin Bay sector. The ratio of THg accumulation between pre-industrial times (reconstructed from archived ice cores) and the modern industrial era is estimated at between 4- and 16-fold, which is consistent with estimates from Arctic lake sediment cores. The new P2010 THg record is the first of its kind developed from the Baffin Island region of the eastern Canadian Arctic and one of very few such records presently available in the Arctic. As such, it may help to bridge the knowledge gap linking direct observation of gaseous Hg in the Arctic atmosphere and actual net deposition and accumulation in various terrestrial media.

Wet deposition fluxes of total mercury and methylmercury in core urban areas, Chongqing, China

Wet deposition fluxes of mercury (Hg) species were estimated during the period from June 2010 to July 2011 at 3 sites in core urban areas in Chongqing, China. Rain water was collected by automatic deposition sampler for total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) analyses. Our results showed that annual wet deposition fluxes of THg and MeHg were 28.7 ± 5.1 and 0.28 ± 0.09 μg m−2 yr−1, respectively. We estimate that MeHg wet deposition contributes 9.2–19.6% of the total MeHg flux to a local reservoir. Cumulative THg fluxes collected from nine principal rainfall events (>1.5 μg m−2 yr−1) at three sampling sites accounted for 20% of annual overall THg wet deposition. Statistical analyses yielded significant relationship between rainfall amounts and Hg wet deposition fluxes (r2 = 0.76, p < 0.01 for THg; r2 = 0.65, p < 0.01 for MeHg), suggesting that rainfall is one of the most important factors controlling the Hg fluxes. Obvious seasonal variations of THg fluxes were observed, with the maximum value occurring in summer (accounting for 40% of total annual THg deposition) while minimum values occurred in winter in all the three sampling sites. 72-h backward trajectory analysis on nine large deposition events at the three sites, using HYSPLIT model indicated that most of air masses which contain a relatively high precipitation amount and pass through major Hg sources would have an elevated Hg load.

Changing climate alters inputs and pathways of mercury deposition to forested ecosystems

Although land cover and meteorological conditions are known to impact mercury (Hg) deposition processes, few studies have addressed how changes in forest cover and shifting climatic conditions will impact the Hg cycle. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of forest type (hardwood vs. conifer) and meteorological variation on atmospheric Hg deposition in two forest stands in Huntington Wildlife Forest in upstate New York, USA. Mercury deposition associated with litterfall was similar between the hardwood and conifer stands, but total Hg deposition was greater in the coniferous stand due to larger throughfall Hg. Soil evasion losses of Hg were significantly higher in the hardwood plot. Although Hg deposition was greater and evasion losses were lower in the conifer plot, soil Hg pools were smaller than in the hardwood plot. Annual variability in meteorological conditions was substantial between 2009 and 2010, and changes in Hg deposition over this period appear to be related to variation in temperature and precipitation quantity. The results from this study suggest that projected increases in temperature and precipitation in the northeastern United States could alter Hg deposition and availability by decreasing litterfall Hg inputs and increasing throughfall Hg inputs.

Total mercury in snow and ice samples from Canadian High Arctic ice caps and glaciers: A practical procedure and method for total Hg quantification at low pg g− 1 level

A newly developed procedure and method for studying total Hg (THg) in the High Arctic glaciers and ice caps, including container type selection, on-site sampling, sample protection and storage, and sample decontamination is reported in this study. Two analytical systems for THg quantification were also compared to confirm the accuracy and reproducibility.This study found that container types, storage time, sample protection from exposure to light and environment are all important for precise quantification of THg in snow and ice samples from the Canadian High Arctic glaciers and ice caps.With this newly developed procedure and method, we retrieved 28-year and 73-year archives for atmospheric THg deposition from Mt. Oxford and Agassiz Ice Cap respectively. Our results show that snow and ice samples contain THg concentrations varying from sub pgg−1 to low pgg−1. Comparison of THg concentration trends and fluxes from the two sites demonstrates that quantification of THg from the two locations with similar altitudes and latitudes can be reproducible, which suggests that historical THg information from atmospheric deposition can be preserved in snow and ice in the glaciers and ice caps. The high reproducibility of results achieved by this procedure and method, in return, confirmed its suitability for studies of THg in snow and ice samples from ice caps and glaciers.

Modeling and mapping of atmospheric mercury deposition in adirondack park, new york.

The Adirondacks of New York State, USA is a region that is sensitive to atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition. In this study, we estimated atmospheric Hg deposition to the Adirondacks using a new scheme that combined numerical modeling and limited experimental data. The majority of the land cover in the Adirondacks is forested with 47% of the total area deciduous, 20% coniferous and 10% mixed. We used litterfall plus throughfall deposition as the total atmospheric Hg deposition to coniferous and deciduous forests during the leaf-on period, and wet Hg deposition plus modeled atmospheric dry Hg deposition as the total Hg deposition to the deciduous forest during the leaf-off period and for the non-forested areas year-around. To estimate atmospheric dry Hg deposition we used the Big Leaf model. The average atmospheric Hg deposition to the Adirondacks was estimated as 17.4 g m yr with a range of −3.7–46.0 g m yr. Atmospheric Hg dry deposition (370 kg yr) was found to be more important than wet deposition (210 kg yr) to the entire Adirondacks (2.4 million ha). The spatial pattern showed a large variation in atmospheric Hg deposition with scattered areas in the eastern Adirondacks having total Hg deposition greater than 30 μg m−2 yr−1, while the southwestern and the northern areas received Hg deposition ranging from 25–30 μg m−2 yr−1.

Assessing the Emission Sources of Atmospheric Mercury in Wet Deposition Across Illinois, USA

From August 2007 to August 2009, we collected event-based precipitation samples for mercury (Hg) and trace element analysis at four sites in Illinois, USA. The objectives of these measurements were to quantify the levels of Hg wet deposition across the state, and to assess the contributions to Hg in precipitation from major local and regional emission sources. The measurement sites were located in Chicago, Peoria, Nilwood, and Carbondale, IL. We were not able to identify a clear spatial gradient in Hg wet deposition among the sites. At all four locations we frequently observed Hg concentrations in precipitation > 25 ng/L, while each site received > 10 μg/m2 of Hg wet deposition annually, suggesting a substantial impact from local and regional anthropogenic emission sources. We applied the multivariate statistical receptor model Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) to the measured Hg and trace element wet deposition amounts at the four sites. The results suggested that 60-83% of total Hg deposition at each site could be attributed to coal combustion emissions. Although we identified other source signatures in the precipitation composition, including cement manufacturing, metal smelting / waste incineration, and iron-steel production, these sources contributed substantially less to the measured amounts of Hg wet deposition. We also applied the hybrid receptor model Quantitative Transport Bias Analysis (QTBA) to the Hg wet deposition data from each site to identify the major source regions associated with the measured values. Results suggested that sources in the Chicago/Gary, St. Louis, and Ohio River Valley urban/industrial areas had a substantial impact on Hg wet deposition, strongly supporting the conclusion that local and regional coal combustion was the largest source of Hg wet deposition in Illinois.

Preliminary Assessment of Mercury Accumulation in Massachusetts and Minnesota Seasonal Forest Pools

Seasonal forest pools (SFPs) are common, widespread, and provide critical habitat for amphibians and invertebrates. The ephemeral hydrology of SFPs has been identified as an important factor in the production of biologically active methylmercury (MeHg). To investigate mercury (Hg) in SFPs, we collected water, fine benthic organic matter (FBOM), detrital materials, and faunal samples from 10 pools in Massachusetts and Minnesota, across a range of basin morphometry, water chemistry, canopy closure, and hydroperiod. Total Hg (THg) and MeHg concentrations were comparable to other small, lentic waters. MeHg was found in greater concentrations in fauna than in periphyton, detrital items, or FBOM. In spite of consistently lower pool acidity and higher THg deposition in Massachusetts, we found no significant differences in Hg concentrations between states. No significant relationship was found between MeHg concentration and canopy closure. A weak, positive relationship was identified between pool hydroperiod and the bioaccumulation of THg, suggesting that longer exposure may be a factor in increased Hg concentrations in basal resources, which is then propagated into consumer trophic levels. Further work on the mechanisms determining Hg trophic transfer and bioaccumulation is required to fully understand the influence of hydrogeochemical and landscape influences on Hg dynamics in SFPs.

Testing the use of passive sampling systems for understanding air mercury concentrations and dry deposition across Florida, USA

This paper describes the use of passive sampling systems and surrogate surfaces for monitoring atmospheric mercury (Hg) concentrations and dry deposition, respectively, in Florida,USA. Although this area has been reported to have low air concentrations, wet deposition values, reported by the Mercury Deposition Network, are some of the highest in the United States, and little is known about the magnitude of dry deposition to the region. To address this uncertainty, dry deposition of gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) was estimated based on data collected using surrogate surfaces and through the application of a dry deposition model that utilized Tekran® Mercury Analyzer data for three sites (Davie near Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Pensacola) over a year (July 2009-July 2010). Passive sampler systems for monitoring GOM and total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations were also deployed. In general, higher surrogate surface deposition, and GOM and TGM passive sampler uptake were observed at the DVE location. Across all sites, empirically derived dry deposition was higher than that determined using modeled values. Tekran® Instrument derived GOM concentrations, as well as modeled deposition rates, followed the same seasonal and spatial patterns as that measured by the samplers, however there were some spatial and temporal trends captured by the samplers that were not seen in the Tekran® derived data. Results indicate that these samplers may be applied to identify spatial and temporal trends in air Hg concentrations and potential deposition at sites with low and fairly constant GOM concentrations as reported by the Tekran® system (2–8pgm-3). When viewed collectively, trends in sampler and Tekran® derived data also suggest the potential for different forms of GOM in air. Using empirical and modeled values, dry deposition in Florida during the year of this study could account for 1.5 to 14% of total annual Hg deposition (wet+dry).

Litterfall mercury deposition in Atlantic forest ecosystem from SE – Brazil

Litterfall is believed to be the major flux of Hg to soils in forested landscapes, yet much less is known about this input on tropical environment. The Hg litterfall flux was measured during one year in Atlantic Forest fragment, located within Rio de Janeiro urban perimeter, in the Southeastern region of Brazil. The results indicated a mean annual Hg concentration of 238 ± 52 ng g−1 and a total annual Hg deposition of 184 ± 8.2 μg m−2 y−1. The negative correlation observed between rain precipitation and Hg concentrations is probably related to the higher photosynthetic activity observed during summer. The total Hg concentration in leaves from the most abundant species varied from 60 to 215 ng g−1. Hg concentration showed a positive correlation with stomatal and trichomes densities. These characteristics support the hypothesis that Tropical Forest is an efficient mercury sink and litter plays a key role in Hg dynamics.

A synthesis of rates and controls on elemental mercury evasion in the Great Lakes Basin

Rates of surface-air elemental mercury (Hg 0) fluxes in the literature were synthesized for the Great Lakes Basin (GLB). For the majority of surfaces, fluxes were net positive (evasion). Digital land-cover data were combined with representative evasion rates and used to estimate annual Hg 0 evasion for the GLB (7.7 Mg/yr). This value is less than our estimate of total Hg deposition to the area (15.9 Mg/yr), suggesting the GLB is a net sink for atmospheric Hg. The greatest contributors to annual evasion for the basin are agricultural (∼55%) and forest (∼25%) land cover types, and the open water of the Great Lakes (∼15%). Areal evasion rates were similar across most land cover types (range: 7.0–21.0 μg/m 2-yr), with higher rates associated with urban (12.6 μg/m 2-yr) and agricultural (21.0 μg/m 2-yr) lands. Uncertainty in these estimates could be partially remedied through a unified methodological approach to estimating Hg 0 fluxes.

Sources of gaseous oxidized mercury and mercury dry deposition at two southeastern U.S. sites

Wet deposition measurements have shown that relative to other parts of the US, the southeastern region has the highest mercury (Hg) inputs. The source of this Hg has been investigated by multiple researchers and is suggested to be derived from local, regional and global sources. Here we focus on trying to understand potential sources of Hg to this area during periods dominated by dry gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) deposition. Dry deposition of GOM to a surrogate surface was measured in conjunction with speciated atmospheric Hg, and ancillary parameters from September 2007 through September 2008 at two sites located within 25 km of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) near Yorkville, GA, and Pensacola, FL. Mean weekly GOM dry deposition, daily GOM, and daily sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.01) higher at the Yorkville site by factors of 1.5, 2.0, and 1.8, respectively. At both sites, GOM and SO2 concentrations were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) in every season on hourly and daily time scales. Wind rose diagrams showed significantly enhanced GOM and SO2 concentrations when air moved to the sites from the direction of the nearest CFPPs. Most periods of enhanced GOM concentrations ([GOM] > 98th percentile), were also associated with NOy/SO2 ratios that were within 25% of that reported for the local CFPPs (N = 27 of 33 at Yorkville, N = 18 of 26 at Pensacola). During these events, termed Category 1, mean GOM/SO2 enhancement ratios were 2.4 ± 0.1 and 2.3 ± 0.1 pg m−3 ppb−1 for Yorkville and Pensacola, respectively (range = 0.5 to 5.5). The remaining events at both sites (termed Category 2) displayed significantly lower SO2 concentrations, yet GOM concentrations were not significantly different compared to Category 1 events. The potential sources of GOM during the Category 2 events at OLF were investigated using gridded frequency distributions (GFD) of 72-h atmospheric back trajectories. During these periods there was a greater component of air mass transport from the free troposphere, and less precipitation along the trajectory paths compared to GFDs for Category 1 events. GFDs developed for the weeks when GOM dry deposition was in the upper quartile at both sites simultaneously revealed a similar pattern to the GFDs of Category 2 GOM concentration events, that is, greater free tropospheric transport and relatively little precipitation. Although dry deposition inputs are thought to represent <15% of total annual Hg deposition in this region, we suggest that a significant portion of this Hg could be derived from sources outside the local area.

Mercury dynamics and transport in two Adirondack Lakes

We investigated the chemistry and fluxes of mercury (Hg) species for two Adirondack lakes with contrasting landscape, physical, and chemical attributes. Samples were collected monthly at the lake inlets and outlets over 2 yr, and evasion of elemental Hg was measured at one lake (Arbutus). Concentrations of total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) in watershed runoff were highly variable throughout the year, increasing markedly during summer months. The proportion of THg as MeHg ranged from &lt;5% at Arbutus Lake up to 10% at Sunday Lake. Concentrations of Hg species increased with increases in dissolved organic carbon concentrations and percentage wetland coverage. The estimated rate of volatilization loss of elemental mercury (Hgo) from Arbutus Lake surface (7.8 µg m−2 yr−1) was comparable to the rate of direct atmospheric Hg deposition to the lake surface (8.6 µg m−2 yr−1). Dry deposition to Arbutus Lake amounted to ca. 26% of total wet THg deposition. Hydraulic residence time (HRT) played a critical role in controlling Hg dynamics in the lakes. Negligible removal of THg inputs was observed at Sunday Lake, which has a short HRT (0.02 yr), compared with approximately 60% removal at Arbutus Lake, which has a longer HRT (0.6 yr). This pattern of increasing net Hg retention in lakes with increasing HRT was consistent with other mass balance studies in the literature. Both Arbutus and Sunday lakes were net sinks of MeHg.

Forest Fire Effects on Mercury Deposition in the Boreal Forest

Particulate Hg (pHg) is a component of smoke from biomass burning and has the potential for local redeposition. Throughfall (precipitation collected beneath a conifer or deciduous canopy) and open precipitation samples were collected pre- and postfire in 2005 and 2006 using passive precipitation collectors across the Superior National Forest, located in northern Minnesota, USA. Samples were collected approximately every two weeks and analyzed for total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg). THg concentrations increased significantly postfire in conifer throughfall (> 4x increase), open precipitation (2.5x), and when all canopy types were considered (2.9x). MeHg concentrations also increased after fire regardless of the covertype (conifer throughfall: 10x increase; open precipitation: 3.5x increase; deciduous throughfall: 1.7x increase; all canopy types analyzed together: 8x increase). Total Hg deposition increased significantly under conifer cover (3.8x). Methyl Hg deposition increased significantly after fire when all canopy types were analyzed together (4.6x) and in conifer throughfall (5.9x). Canopy type influenced the magnitude of postfire THg and MeHg increase and the duration of elevated MeHg levels. Particulate Hg present in forest fire smoke represents a short-term source of increased Hg in the atmosphere that is available for local redeposition during and following fire.

Estimation of mercury loadings to Lake Ontario: Results from the Lake Ontario atmospheric deposition study (LOADS)

Atmospheric mercury (Hg) loadings to Lake Ontario were estimated using data measured at two land-based sites: Sterling, NY and Point Petre, Ont., as part of the Lake Ontario air deposition study (LOADS) between April 2002 and March 2003. These loadings were compared with those estimated using intensive data measured onboard the R/V Lake Guardian in April 2002, September 2002, and July 2003 (each approximately one week). Measured concentrations and modeled mass transfer coefficients of elemental mercury (Hg 0), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particulate mercury (Hg (p)) in air and total Hg in precipitation were incorporated into a total deposition model including wet deposition, air–water gas exchange and particle dry deposition. Urban/rural Hg concentration ratios were assumed based on literature values. Assuming that 10% of the lake was influenced by urban areas, the annual net Hg atmospheric loadings of wet deposition, net air–water gas exchange of Hg 0 (deposition=300 kg yr −1 and emission=410 kg yr −1) and RGM, and Hg (p) dry deposition to Lake Ontario were estimated to be 170, −110, 68, and 20 kg, respectively, resulting in a net loading of 150 kg yr −1. Net Hg loadings were largest in the fall (46 kg) and smallest in the summer (20 kg). Hg 0, wet, RGM and Hg (p) deposition contributed 55%, 30%, 12%, and 3.6% of the total Hg deposition, respectively. The net loading was found to be most sensitive to the assumed urban/rural concentration ratios, wind speed, DGM concentration and Hg 0 transfer velocity. An increase in the influence of urban areas from 0% to 30% resulted in a 90% increase in the total loading demonstrating the complexity and non-linearity of the atmospheric deposition of mercury to Lake Ontario and the importance of quantifying the urban footprint.

Intercomparison study of atmospheric mercury models: 2. Modelling results vs. long-term observations and comparison of country deposition budgets

Five regional scale models with a horizontal domain covering the European continent and its surrounding seas, two hemispheric and one global scale model participated in the atmospheric Hg modelling intercomparison study. The models were compared between each other and with available measurements from 11 monitoring stations of the EMEP measurement network. Because only a very limited number of long-term measurement records of Hg were available, significant attention was given to the intercomparison of modelling results. Monthly and annually averaged values of Hg concentrations and depositions as well as items of the Hg deposition budgets for individual European countries were compared. The models demonstrated good agreement (within +/-20%) between annual modelled and observed values of gaseous elemental Hg. Modelled values of Hg wet deposition in Western and Central Europe agreed with the observations within +/-45%. The probability to predict wet depositions within a factor of 2 with regard to measurements was 50-70% for all the models. The scattering of modelling results for dry depositions of Hg was more significant (up to +/-50% at the annual scale and even higher for monthly data). Contribution of dry deposition to the total Hg deposition was estimated at 20-30% with elevated dry deposition fluxes during summer time. The participating models agree in their predictions of transboundary pollution for individual countries within +/-60% at the monthly scale and within +/-30% at the annual scale. For the cases investigated, all the models predict that the major part of national anthropogenic Hg emissions is transported outside the country territory.

Controls on Mercury and Methylmercury Deposition for Two Watersheds in Acadia National Park, Maine

Throughfall and bulk precipitation samples were collected for two watersheds at Acadia National Park, Maine, from 3 May to 16 November 2000, to determine which landscape factors affected mercury (Hg) deposition. One of these watersheds, Cadillac Brook, burned in 1947, providing a natural experimental design to study the effects of forest type on deposition to forested watersheds. Sites that face southwest received the highest Hg deposition, which may be due to the interception of cross-continental movement of contaminated air masses. Sites covered with softwood vegetation also received higher Hg deposition than other vegetation types because of the higher scavenging efficiency of the canopy structure. Methyl mercury (MeHg) deposition was not affected by these factors. Hg deposition, as bulk precipitation and throughfall was lower in Cadillac Brook watershed (burned) than in Hadlock Brook watershed (unburned) because of vegetation type and watershed aspect. Hg and MeHg inputs were weighted by season and vegetation type because these two factors had the most influence on deposition. Hg volatilization was not determined. The total Hg deposition via throughfall and bulk precipitation was 9.4 microg/m(2)/year in Cadillac Brook watershed and 10.2 microg/m(2)/year in Hadlock Brook watershed. The total MeHg deposition via throughfall and bulk precipitation was 0.05 microg/m(2)/year in Cadillac Brook watershed and 0.10 microg/m(2)/year in Hadlock Brook watershed.

Urban impacts of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants

A thorough quantitative understanding of the processes of mercury emissions, deposition, and translocation through the food chain is currently not available. Complex atmospheric chemistry and dispersion models are required to predict concentration and deposition contributions, and aquatic process models are required to predict effects on fish. There are uncertainties in all of these predictions. Therefore, the most reliable method of understanding impacts of coal-fired power plants on Hg deposition is from empirical data. A review of the literature on mercury deposition around sources including coal-fired power plants found studies covering local mercury concentrations in soil, vegetation, and animals (fish and cows (Lopez et al. 2003)). There is strong evidence of enhanced local deposition within 3 km of the chlor-alkali plants, with elevated soil concentrations and estimated deposition rates of 10 times background. For coal-fired power plants, the data show that atmospheric deposition of Hg may be slightly enhanced. On the scale of a few km, modeling suggests that wet deposition may be increased by a factor of two or three over background. The measured data suggest lower increases of 15% or less. The effects of coal-fired plants seem to be less than 10% of total deposition on a national scale,more » based on emissions and global modeling. The following summarizes our findings from published reports on the impacts of local deposition. In terms of excesses over background the following increments have been observed within a few km of the plant: (1) local soil concentration Hg increments of 30%-60%, (2) sediment increments of 18-30%, (3) wet deposition increments of 11-12%, and (4) fish Hg increments of about 5-6%, based on an empirical finding that fish concentrations are proportional to the square root of deposition. Important uncertainties include possible reductions of RGM to Hg(0) in power plant plumes and the role of water chemistry in the relationship between Hg deposition and fish content. Soil and vegetation sampling programs were performed around two mid-size coal fired power plants. The objectives were to determine if local mercury hot spots exist, to determine if they could be attributed to deposition of coal-fired power plant emissions, and to determine if they correlated with model predictions. These programs found the following: (1) At both sites, there was no correlation between modeled mercury deposition and either soil concentrations or vegetation concentrations. At the Kincaid plant, there was excess soil Hg along heavily traveled roads. The spatial pattern of soil mercury concentrations did not match the pattern of vegetation Hg concentrations at either plant. (2) At both sites, the subsurface (5-10 cm) samples the Hg concentration correlated strongly with the surface samples (0-5 cm). Average subsurface sample concentrations were slightly less than the surface samples, however, the difference was not statistically significant. (3) An unequivocal definition of background Hg was not possible at either site. Using various assumed background soil mercury concentrations, the percentage of mercury deposited within 10 km of the plant ranged between 1.4 and 8.5% of the RGM emissions. Based on computer modeling, Hg deposition was primarily RGM with much lower deposition from elemental mercury. Estimates of the percentage of total Hg deposition ranged between 0.3 and 1.7%. These small percentages of deposition are consistent with the empirical findings of only minor perturbations in environmental levels, as opposed to ''hot spots'', near the plants. The major objective of this study was to determine if there was evidence for ''hot spots'' of mercury deposition around coal-fired power plants. Although the term has been used extensively, it has never been defined. From a public health perspective, such a ''hot spot'' must be large enough to insure that it did not occur by chance, and it must affect water bodies large enough to support a population of subsistence fishers. The results of this study support the hypothesis that neither of these conditions have been met.« less

Modeling Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in the Vicinity of Power Plants

Two mathematical models of the atmospheric fate and transport of mercury (Hg), an Eulerian grid–based model and a Gaussian plume model, are used to calculate the atmospheric deposition of Hg in the vicinity (i.e., within 50 km) of five coal–fired power plants. The former is applied using two different horizontal resolutions: coarse (84 km) and fine (16.7 km). More than 96% of the power plant Hg emissions are calculated with the plume model to be transported beyond 50 km from the plants. The grid–based model predicts a lower fraction to be transported beyond 50 km: >91% with a coarse resolution and >95% with a fine resolution. The contribution of the power plant emissions to total Hg deposition within a radius of 50 km from the plants is calculated to be <8% with the plume model, <14% with the Eulerian model with a coarse resolution, and <10% with the Eulerian model with a fine resolution. The Eulerian grid–based model predicts greater local impacts than the plume model because of artificially enhanced vertical dispersion; the former predicts about twice as much Hg deposition as the latter when the area considered is commensurate with the resolution of the grid–based model. If one compares the local impacts for an area that is significantly less than the grid–based model resolution, then the grid–based model may predict lower local deposition than the plume model, because two compensating errors affect the results obtained with the grid–based model: initial dilution of the power plant emissions within one or more grid cells and enhanced vertical mixing to the ground.

Contributions of global and regional sources to mercury deposition in New York State

A modeling system that includes a global chemical transport model (CTM) and a nested continental CTM (TEAM) was used to simulate the atmospheric transport, transformations and deposition of mercury (Hg). Three scenarios were used: (1) a nominal scenario, (2) a scenario conducive to local deposition and (3) a scenario conducive to long-range transport. Deposition fluxes of Hg were analyzed at three receptor locations in New York State. For the nominal scenario, the anthropogenic emission sources (including re-emission of deposited Hg) in New York State, the rest of the contiguous United States, Asia, Europe, and Canada contributed 11–21, 25–49, 13–19, 5–7, and 2–5%, respectively to total Hg deposition at these three receptors. Natural sources contributed 16–24%. The results from the local deposition and long-range transport scenarios varied only slightly from these results. However, there are still uncertainties in our understanding of the atmospheric chemistry of Hg that are likely to affect these estimates of local, regional and global contributions. Comparison of model simulation results with data from the Mercury Deposition Network suggests that local and regional contributions may currently be overestimated.

500 years of mercury production: global annual inventory by region until 2000 and associated emissions

Since pre-industrial times, anthropogenic emissions of Hg have at least doubled global atmospheric Hg deposition rates. In order to minimize environmental and human health effects, efforts have been made to reduce Hg emissions from industries and power plants, while less attention has been paid to Hg mining. This paper is a compilation of available data on primary Hg production and associated emissions with regional and annual resolution since colonial times. Globally, approximately one million tons of metallic Hg has been extracted from cinnabar and other ores during the past five centuries, half already before 1925. Roughly half has been used for mining of gold and silver, but the annual Hg production peaked during a short period of recent industrial uses. Comparison with total historic Hg deposition from global anthropogenic emissions (0.1–0.2 Mtons) suggests that only a few percent of all mined Hg have escaped to the atmosphere thus far. While production of primary Hg has changed dramatically over time and among mines, the global production has always been dominant in the region of the mercuriferous belt between the western Mediterranean and central Asia, but appears to be shifting to the east. Roughly half of the registered Hg has been extracted in Europe, where Spanish mines alone have contributed one third of the world's mined Hg. Approximately one fourth has been mined in the Americas, and most of the remaining registered Hg in Asia. However, the Asian figures may be largely underestimated. Presently, the dominant Hg mines are in Almadén in Spain (236 t of Hg produced in 2000), Khaydarkan in Kyrgyzstan (550 t), Algeria (estimated 240 t) and China (ca. 200 t). Mercury by-production from mining of other metals (e.g. copper, zinc, gold, silver) in 2000 includes 48 t from Peru, 45 t from Finland and at least 15 t from the USA. Since 1970, the recorded production of primary Hg has been reduced by almost an order of magnitude to approximately 2000 t in the year 2000. Mining is thus still of similar magnitude as all current anthropogenic Hg emissions to the atmosphere, and mined Hg may account for more than one third of these emissions. Also before use, mercury is emitted from Hg mines locally during the mining and refining processes and from mining waste. Global direct emissions to the atmosphere amount to 10–30 t per year currently (up to 10 at Almadén alone), and probably exceed 10 000 t historically. Termination of Hg mining will reduce associated local emissions to the atmosphere and biosphere. Since several economically viable Hg-free alternatives exist for practically all applications of Hg, the production and use of Hg can be further reduced and all primary production of Hg other than by-production terminated.