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Gustin MS, Dunham-Cheatham SM, Osterwalder S, Magand O, Dommergue A. What is the utility of measuring gaseous Hg II dry deposition using Aerohead samplers?: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167895. [PMID: 37866618 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The most efficient way to quantify HgII inputs to ecosystems is to measure wet and dry deposition. Wet deposition of HgII is determined by measuring Hg concentrations and the volume of precipitation. Dry deposition of HgII is determined through direct measurement and/or determined indirectly by measuring air concentrations and using model-generated deposition velocities. Here, data collected using an Aerohead sampler holding cation exchange membranes are summarized, and the utility of this method for understanding dry deposition, and other measurements and processes is discussed. This analysis includes information from publications, and recent data collected at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA, and Amsterdam Island, Southern Indian Ocean. This method primarily measures gaseous HgII and little particulate-bound Hg. The Aerohead method is useful for looking at large-scale trends in deposition, verifying Hg depletion events, calculating dry deposition velocities for compounds with specific chemistry, and identification of sources of HgII. At numerous locations in the western USA, deposition rates were greater at higher elevations due to elevated concentrations associated with long-range transport of atmospheric pollution. When used in tandem with the Reactive Mercury Active System or a dual-channel system, more accurate deposition velocities - that vary as a function of GOM compound chemistry - can be calculated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno.
| | - Sarrah M Dunham-Cheatham
- College of Biotechnology, Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP (Institute of Engineering and Management Univ. Grenoble Alpes), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France; Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Magand
- Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers à La Réunion (OSU-R), UAR 3365, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Météo France, 97744 Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France
| | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP (Institute of Engineering and Management Univ. Grenoble Alpes), IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
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Zhang L, Zhang G, Zhou P, Zhao Y. A Review of Dry Deposition Schemes for Speciated Atmospheric Mercury. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 110:16. [PMID: 36525086 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study reviewed the existing framework of dry deposition schemes for speciated atmospheric mercury. As the most commonly used methods for mercury dry deposition estimation, the big-leaf resistance scheme for gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), the size distribution regarded resistance scheme for particulate bound mercury (PBM), and the bidirectional air-surface exchange scheme for gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) were introduced in detail. Sensitivity analysis were conducted to quantitatively identify the key parameters for the estimation of speciated mercury dry deposition velocities. The dry deposition velocity of GOM was found to be sensitive to the wind speed and some land use related parameters. The chemical forms of GOM could have a significant impact on the dry deposition velocity. The dry deposition velocity of PBM is sensitive to the mass fraction of PBM in coarse particles, while that of GEM is most sensitive to air temperature. Future research needs were proposed accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CICAEET), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Guichen Zhang
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peisheng Zhou
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- School of the Environment and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CICAEET), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, Jiangsu, China
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Gačnik J, Živković I, Ribeiro Guevara S, Jaćimović R, Kotnik J, Horvat M. Validating an Evaporative Calibrator for Gaseous Oxidized Mercury. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21072501. [PMID: 33916694 PMCID: PMC8038396 DOI: 10.3390/s21072501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding atmospheric mercury chemistry is the key for explaining the biogeochemical cycle of mercury and for improving the predictive capability of computational models. Increased efforts are being made to ensure comparable Hg speciation measurements in the air through establishing metrological traceability. While traceability for elemental mercury has been recently set, this is by no means the case for gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM). Since a calibration unit suitable for traceable GOM calibrations based on evaporation of HgCl2 solution was recently developed, the purpose of our work was to extensively evaluate its performance. A highly specific and sensitive 197Hg radiotracer was used for validation over a wide range of concentrations. By comparing experimental and calculated values, we obtained recoveries for the calibration unit. The average recoveries ranged from 88.5% for 1178 ng m−3 HgCl2 gas concentration to 39.4% for 5.90 ng m−3 HgCl2 gas concentration. The losses were due to the adsorption of oxidized Hg on the inner walls of the calibrator and tubing. An adsorption isotherm was applied to estimate adsorption enthalpy (ΔHads); a ΔHads value of −12.33 kJ mol−1 was obtained, suggesting exothermal adsorption. The results of the calibrator performance evaluation suggest that a newly developed calibration unit is only suitable for concentrations of HgCl2 higher than 1 µg m−3. The concentration dependence of recoveries prevents the system from being used for calibration of instruments for ambient GOM measurements. Moreover, the previously assessed uncertainty of this unit at µg m−3 level (2.0%, k = 2) was re-evaluated by including uncertainty related to recovery and was found to be 4.1%, k = 2. Calibrator performance was also evaluated for HgBr2 gas calibration; the recoveries were much lower for HgBr2 gas than for HgCl2 gas even at a high HgBr2 gas concentration (>1 µg m−3). As HgBr2 is often used as a proxy for various atmospheric HgBr species, the suitability of the unit for such calibration must be further developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gačnik
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (I.Ž.); (R.J.); (J.K.)
| | - Igor Živković
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (I.Ž.); (R.J.); (J.K.)
| | - Sergio Ribeiro Guevara
- Laboratorio de Análisis por Activación Neutrónica, Centro Atómico Bariloche, Av. Bustillo km 9.5, Bariloche 8400, Argentina;
| | - Radojko Jaćimović
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (I.Ž.); (R.J.); (J.K.)
| | - Jože Kotnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (I.Ž.); (R.J.); (J.K.)
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (I.Ž.); (R.J.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +386-1-588-53-55
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Abstract
This review focuses on providing the history of measurement efforts to quantify and characterize the compounds of reactive mercury (RM), and the current status of measurement methods and knowledge. RM collectively represents gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and that bound to particles. The presence of RM was first recognized through measurement of coal-fired power plant emissions. Once discovered, researchers focused on developing methods for measuring RM in ambient air. First, tubular KCl-coated denuders were used for stack gas measurements, followed by mist chambers and annular denuders for ambient air measurements. For ~15 years, thermal desorption of an annular KCl denuder in the Tekran® speciation system was thought to be the gold standard for ambient GOM measurements. Research over the past ~10 years has shown that the KCl denuder does not collect GOM compounds with equal efficiency, and there are interferences with collection. Using a membrane-based system and an automated system—the Detector for Oxidized mercury System (DOHGS)—concentrations measured with the KCl denuder in the Tekran speciation system underestimate GOM concentrations by 1.3 to 13 times. Using nylon membranes it has been demonstrated that GOM/RM chemistry varies across space and time, and that this depends on the oxidant chemistry of the air. Future work should focus on development of better surfaces for collecting GOM/RM compounds, analytical methods to characterize GOM/RM chemistry, and high-resolution, calibrated measurement systems.
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Sather ME, Mukerjee S, Smith L, Mathew J, Jackson C, Flournoy M. Gaseous Oxidized Mercury Dry Deposition Measurements in the Four Corners Area, U.S.A., after Large Power Plant Mercury Emission Reductions. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2021; 12:148-158. [PMID: 33746528 PMCID: PMC7970455 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2020.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) dry deposition measurements using surrogate surface passive samplers were collected at six sites in the Four Corners area, U.S.A., for the two-year period August, 2017-August, 2019, after the implementation of large power plant mercury emission reductions across the U.S.A. Two-year baseline GOM dry deposition measurements at the same six sites in the Four Corners area, taken before the implementation of U.S.A. power plant mercury control regulations, were conducted earlier from August, 2009-August, 2011. The GOM dry deposition rate estimate decreased at the Four Corners area high elevation remote mountain site of Molas Pass, Colorado (3249 m asl) from 0.4 ng/m2h for August, 2009-August, 2011 to 0.3 ng/m2h for August, 2017-August, 2019. In contrast, GOM dry deposition rate estimates for the remaining five sites increased for August, 2017-August, 2019, ranging from 0.8-1.3 ng/m2h, up from the August, 2009-August, 2011 range of 0.6-1.0 ng/m2h. Comparisons of median GOM dry deposition values showed a statistically significant decrease of 17 ng/m2 at the Molas Pass site between August, 2009-August, 2011 and August, 2017-August, 2019, and a statistically significant increase of 66 ng/m2 and 64 ng/m2, respectively, at the Mesa Verde National Park and Farmington Substation sites between August, 2009-August, 2011 and August, 2017-August, 2019. For the four years of GOM dry deposition data collected in the Four Corners area annual GOM dry deposition levels ranged from 2237 ng/m2yr (at the Molas Pass high elevation remote mountain site) to 11542 ng/m2yr (at the Mesa Verde National Park site), and the estimates were generally higher in magnitude in the spring and summer compared to the fall and winter. In light of the unexpected increases in GOM dry deposition rates at the non-remote sites, it is suggested that large regional wildfires and local anthropogenic mercury emission sources from cities and oil/gas production areas are possible notable contributors to the GOM dry deposition measurements collected in the Four Corners area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E Sather
- Air Monitoring & Grants Section, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 75270
| | - Shaibal Mukerjee
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. EPA (E205-03), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Luther Smith
- Serco, Inc., 4819 Emperor Blvd., Suite 400, Durham, North Carolina 27703
| | - Johnson Mathew
- Houston Laboratory, U.S. EPA Region 6, 10625 Fallstone Road, Houston, Texas 77099
| | - Clarence Jackson
- Houston Laboratory, U.S. EPA Region 6, 10625 Fallstone Road, Houston, Texas 77099
| | - Michael Flournoy
- Eurofins Frontier Global Sciences, 5755 8 St. E, Tacoma, Washington 98424
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Luippold A, Gustin MS, Dunham-Cheatham SM, Castro M, Luke W, Lyman S, Zhang L. Use of Multiple Lines of Evidence to Understand Reactive Mercury Concentrations and Chemistry in Hawai'i, Nevada, Maryland, and Utah, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:7922-7931. [PMID: 32506903 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
To advance our understanding of the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle, concentrations and chemistry of gaseous oxidized Hg (GOM), particulate-bound Hg (PBM), and reactive Hg (RM = GOM + PBM) need to be known. The UNR-RMAS 2.0 provides a solution that will advance knowledge. From 11/2017 to 02/2019, the RMAS 2.0 was deployed in Hawai'i, Nevada, Maryland, and Utah to test system performance and develop an understanding of RM at locations impacted by different atmospheric oxidants. Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawai'i, impacted by the free troposphere and the marine boundary layer, had primarily -Br/Cl RM compounds. The Nevada location, directly adjacent to a major interstate highway and experiences inputs from the free troposphere, exhibited -Br/Cl, -N, -S, and organic compounds. In Maryland, compounds observed were -N, -S, and organic-Hg. This site is downwind of coal-fired power plants and located in a forested area. The location in Utah is in a basin impacted by oil and natural gas extraction, multiday wintertime inversion episodes, and inputs from the free troposphere. Compounds were -Br/Cl or -O, -N, and -Br/Cl. The chemical forms of RM identified were consistent with the air source areas, predominant ion chemistry, criterion air pollutants, and meteorology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriel Luippold
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Sarrah M Dunham-Cheatham
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| | - Mark Castro
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, Maryland 21532, United States
| | - Winston Luke
- Air Resources Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Seth Lyman
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, Vernal, Utah 84322, United States
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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Castro MS, Kaumeyer M, Hilderbrand RH. Variations in Tissue Mercury Contents in Three Species of Adult Salamanders in Streams in Western Maryland. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 76:435-441. [PMID: 30778626 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-019-00606-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the relationship between mercury in three species of adult salamanders and relatively pristine first-order streams in western Maryland. We measured the tissue mercury content of 106 northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata bislineata), 111 northern dusky (Desmognathus fuscus), and 107 Allegheny mountain dusky (Desmognathus ocrophaeus) salamanders collected during three sampling periods. Averaged over our entire data set, northern two-lined salamanders had significantly greater tissue mercury contents (29.57 ± 1.32 ng g-1) than northern dusky (20.95 ± 0.78 ng g-1) and Allegheny mountain dusky salamanders (22.84 ± 1.23 ng g-1). This may be due in part to the longer larval period of the northern two-lined salamanders (24-36 vs. 0-10 months). A longer larval period suggests that the northern two-lined larvae were consuming a fully aquatic diet for a longer time period, which is likely to be higher in mercury compared with a more terrestrial diet. The tissue mercury content in northern two-lined and northern dusky salamanders were strongly correlated with the average total mercury, methyl mercury, and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in stream water. In contrast, the tissue mercury content of the more terrestrial salamander, the Allegheny mountain dusky, was not correlated with stream water chemistry. This suggest that the mercury in the terrestrial prey consumed by the Allegheny mountain dusky salamanders is not directly linked to the mercury in stream water. Our results also suggest that the aquatic salamanders could be important bioindicators of mercury contamination of small streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Castro
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD, 21532, USA.
| | - Morgan Kaumeyer
- Owing Mills High School, 124 South Tollgate Road, Owings Mills, MD, 21117, USA
| | - Robert H Hilderbrand
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD, 21532, USA
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Castro MS, Hilderbrand RH, Kaumeyer M. Mercury Concentrations in Northern Two-Lined Salamanders from Stream Ecosystems in Garrett County, Maryland. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 75:17-24. [PMID: 29332146 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-017-0496-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to increase our understanding of the bioaccumulation of mercury in northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) in freshwater stream ecosystems. We collected 111 adults and 131 larval northern two-lined salamanders from six streams in Garrett County, Maryland. These salamanders were collected in April, July, and September 2010. We measured the size and tissue mercury content in all of these salamanders. We also measured the total and methyl mercury concentrations in stream water on monthly basis from April through December 2010. Averaged over all stream ecosystems, adult northern two-lined salamanders had significantly greater total mercury concentrations than larval salamanders (29.6 vs. 23.8 ng g-1). For individual stream ecosystems, the mean tissue mercury contents in adult northern two-lined salamanders were significantly greater than the mean tissue mercury contents in larval northern two-lined salamanders for Bear Pen and Mill Run. Adult and larval salamanders from the Little Savage River and Mud Lick had 1.5-2 times greater mean tissue mercury contents than salamanders in all other streams. These two streams also had significantly greater total and methyl mercury concentrations. Despite their different life-stage feeding behaviors (terrestrial vs. aquatic), the tissue mercury contents of adult (r = 0.76) and larval (r = 0.79) northern two-lined salamanders were strongly linked to the methyl mercury concentrations in stream water. This implies that northern two-lined salamanders may be a useful bioindicator of mercury pollution in relatively pristine stream ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Castro
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD, 21532, USA.
| | - Robert H Hilderbrand
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD, 21532, USA
| | - Morgan Kaumeyer
- Owing Mills High School, 124 South Tollgate Road, Owings Mills, MD, 21117, USA
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Spolaor A, Angot H, Roman M, Dommergue A, Scarchilli C, Vardè M, Del Guasta M, Pedeli X, Varin C, Sprovieri F, Magand O, Legrand M, Barbante C, Cairns WRL. Feedback mechanisms between snow and atmospheric mercury: Results and observations from field campaigns on the Antarctic plateau. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 197:306-317. [PMID: 29353680 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic Plateau snowpack is an important environment for the mercury geochemical cycle. We have extensively characterized and compared the changes in surface snow and atmospheric mercury concentrations that occur at Dome C. Three summer sampling campaigns were conducted between 2013 and 2016. The three campaigns had different meteorological conditions that significantly affected mercury deposition processes and its abundance in surface snow. In the absence of snow deposition events, the surface mercury concentration remained stable with narrow oscillations, while an increase in precipitation results in a higher mercury variability. The Hg concentrations detected confirm that snowfall can act as a mercury atmospheric scavenger. A high temporal resolution sampling experiment showed that surface concentration changes are connected with the diurnal solar radiation cycle. Mercury in surface snow is highly dynamic and it could decrease by up to 90% within 4/6 h. A negative relationship between surface snow mercury and atmospheric concentrations has been detected suggesting a mutual dynamic exchange between these two environments. Mercury concentrations were also compared with the Br concentrations in surface and deeper snow, results suggest that Br could have an active role in Hg deposition, particularly when air masses are from coastal areas. This research presents new information on the presence of Hg in surface and deeper snow layers, improving our understanding of atmospheric Hg deposition to the snow surface and the possible role of re-emission on the atmospheric Hg concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Spolaor
- CNR-Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA), 30172, Venice-Mestre, Italy.
| | - Hélène Angot
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (IGE), 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Marco Roman
- CNR-Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA), 30172, Venice-Mestre, Italy
| | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (IGE), 38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Massimiliano Vardè
- CNR-Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA), 30172, Venice-Mestre, Italy
| | | | - Xanthi Pedeli
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, 30172, Venice -Mestre, Italy
| | - Cristiano Varin
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, 30172, Venice -Mestre, Italy
| | - Francesca Sprovieri
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (IIA), Division of Rende, 87036, Rende, Italy
| | - Olivier Magand
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (IGE), 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Michel Legrand
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (IGE), 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Carlo Barbante
- CNR-Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA), 30172, Venice-Mestre, Italy; Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, 30172, Venice -Mestre, Italy
| | - Warren R L Cairns
- CNR-Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA), 30172, Venice-Mestre, Italy
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Nguyen DL, Kim JY, Shim SG, Ghim YS, Zhang XS. Shipboard and ground measurements of atmospheric particulate mercury and total mercury in precipitation over the Yellow Sea region. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 219:262-274. [PMID: 27814543 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The first ever shipboard measurements for atmospheric particulate mercury (Hg(p)) over the Yellow Sea and ground measurements for atmospheric Hg(p) and total mercury (THg) in precipitation at the remote sites (Deokjeok and Chengshantou) and the urban sites (Seoul and Ningbo) surrounding the Yellow Sea were carried out during 2007-2008. The Hg(p) regional background concentration of 56.3 ± 55.6 pg m-3 over the Yellow Sea region is much higher than the typical background concentrations of Hg(p) in terrestrial environments (<25 pg m-3) which implies significant impact of anthropogenic mercury emission sources from East Asia. The episodes of highly elevated Hg(p) concentrations at the Korean remote site were influenced through long-range transport from source regions in the Liaoning Province - one of China's most mercury-polluted regions and in the western region of North Korea. Interestingly, wet scavenging of atmospheric Hg(p) is the predominant mechanism regulating concentration of THg in precipitation at the Chinese sites; whereas, wet scavenging of gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) might play the more important role than that of Hg(p) at the Korean sites. The highest annual wet and dry deposition fluxes of Hg were found at the Ningbo site. The comparison between wet and dry deposition fluxes suggested that dry deposition might play the more important role than wet deposition in Chinese urban areas (source regions); whereas, wet deposition is more important in Korean areas (downwind regions).
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc Luong Nguyen
- Department of Environmental Technology and Management, National University of Civil Engineering (NUCE), Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Jin Young Kim
- Green City Technology Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Shang-Gyoo Shim
- Green City Technology Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Sung Ghim
- Department of Environmental Science, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiao-Shan Zhang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Castro MS, Sherwell J. Effectiveness of Emission Controls to Reduce the Atmospheric Concentrations of Mercury. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:14000-14007. [PMID: 26606506 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Coal-fired power plants in the United States are required to reduce their emissions of mercury (Hg) into the atmosphere to lower the exposure of Hg to humans. The effectiveness of power-plant emission controls on the atmospheric concentrations of Hg in the United States is largely unknown because there are few long-term high-quality atmospheric Hg data sets. Here, we present the atmospheric concentrations of Hg and sulfur dioxide (SO2) measured from 2006 to 2015 at a relatively pristine location in western Maryland that is several (>50 km) kilometers downwind of power plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Annual average atmospheric concentrations of gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), SO2, fine particulate mercury (PBM2.5), and gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) declined by 75%, 75%, 43%, and 13%, respectively, and were strongly correlated with power-plant Hg emissions from the upwind states. These results provide compelling evidence that reductions in Hg emissions from power plants in the United States had their intended impact to reduce regional Hg pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Castro
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science , 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, Maryland 21532, United States
| | - John Sherwell
- Power Plant Research Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources , Annapolis, Maryland 21401, United States
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Huang J, Gustin MS. Use of passive sampling methods and models to understand sources of mercury deposition to high elevation sites in the Western United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:432-41. [PMID: 25485926 DOI: 10.1021/es502836w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
To understand gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) sources to the Western US, data were collected with passive samplers for ambient GOM concentrations and dry deposition at 10 sites from the coast of the Pacific Ocean to Great Basin National Park. Tests were done to better understand the samplers and the materials used. Measured dry deposition of GOM was significantly higher at sites >2000 m elevation relative to those below due to high GOM concentrations and atmospheric turbulence. At these high elevation sites, GOM dry deposition was higher in spring due to long-range transport from Asia (air parcels from the free troposphere) and some high GOM dry deposition events were related to regional emissions. Dry deposition of GOM at two sites was calculated using the passive sampler data and a multiple-resistance model. A previously developed relationship between the sampling rate of the passive sampler and GOM concentrations was used to estimate dry deposition and a scaling factor of 3 was used to adjust GOM concentrations, due to underestimation by KCl-coated denuder measurements. With the scaling factor of 3, modeled deposition was in the range of results estimated from two different models settings. However, dry deposition did not correlate consistently with either model. The disagreement could be due to uncertainties associated with measurements and/or modeling, or different GOM compounds existing in the atmosphere. If the atmospheric GOM compounds are known, dry deposition velocities could be estimated more accurately. Lastly, we investigated the potential for use of a new sampling material for GOM and checked the efficiency of the passive sampler.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyan Huang
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno , 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
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Sather ME, Mukerjee S, Allen KL, Smith L, Mathew J, Jackson C, Callison R, Scrapper L, Hathcoat A, Adam J, Keese D, Ketcher P, Brunette R, Karlstrom J, Van der Jagt G. Gaseous oxidized mercury dry deposition measurements in the southwestern USA: a comparison between Texas, eastern Oklahoma, and the Four Corners area. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:580723. [PMID: 24955412 PMCID: PMC3997905 DOI: 10.1155/2014/580723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) dry deposition measurements using aerodynamic surrogate surface passive samplers were collected in central and eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma, from September 2011 to September 2012. The purpose of this study was to provide an initial characterization of the magnitude and spatial extent of ambient GOM dry deposition in central and eastern Texas for a 12-month period which contained statistically average annual results for precipitation totals, temperature, and wind speed. The research objective was to investigate GOM dry deposition in areas of Texas impacted by emissions from coal-fired utility boilers and compare it with GOM dry deposition measurements previously observed in eastern Oklahoma and the Four Corners area. Annual GOM dry deposition rate estimates were relatively low in Texas, ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 ng/m(2)h at the four Texas monitoring sites, similar to the 0.2 ng/m(2)h annual GOM dry deposition rate estimate recorded at the eastern Oklahoma monitoring site. The Texas and eastern Oklahoma annual GOM dry deposition rate estimates were at least four times lower than the highest annual GOM dry deposition rate estimate previously measured in the more arid bordering western states of New Mexico and Colorado in the Four Corners area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E. Sather
- Air Quality Analysis Section, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202, USA
| | - Shaibal Mukerjee
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, US EPA (E205-03), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kara L. Allen
- Air Quality Analysis Section, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202, USA
| | - Luther Smith
- Alion Science and Technology, Inc., P.O. Box 12313, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Johnson Mathew
- Houston Laboratory, US EPA Region 6, 10625 Fallstone Road, Houston, TX 77099, USA
| | - Clarence Jackson
- Houston Laboratory, US EPA Region 6, 10625 Fallstone Road, Houston, TX 77099, USA
| | - Ryan Callison
- Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs, 208 E. Allen Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
| | - Larry Scrapper
- Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs, 208 E. Allen Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
| | - April Hathcoat
- Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs, 208 E. Allen Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
| | - Jacque Adam
- Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs, 208 E. Allen Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
| | - Danielle Keese
- Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs, 208 E. Allen Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
| | - Philip Ketcher
- Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs, 208 E. Allen Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
| | - Robert Brunette
- Eurofins Frontier Global Sciences, 11720 North Creek Parkway North, Suite 400, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
| | - Jason Karlstrom
- Eurofins Frontier Global Sciences, 11720 North Creek Parkway North, Suite 400, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
| | - Gerard Van der Jagt
- Eurofins Frontier Global Sciences, 11720 North Creek Parkway North, Suite 400, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
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Huang J, Lyman SN, Hartman JS, Gustin MS. A review of passive sampling systems for ambient air mercury measurements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2014; 16:374-392. [PMID: 24362622 DOI: 10.1039/c3em00501a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric mercury (Hg) temporal and spatial patterns must be measured accurately in order to adequately understand the role of this pathway as it relates to Hg toxicity and exposure of humans and wildlife to Hg. It is also important to understand the distribution of the different chemical forms (elemental, oxidized, or particle bound) and specific compounds in air (e.g., HgCl2, HgBr2, HgO, Hg(NO3)2, and HgSO4). However, the current automated and passive sampling methods of measurement have limitations and artifacts impacting our ability to achieve this task. Both abiotic and biotic systems have been developed to measure the total gaseous Hg and oxidized Hg compounds (concentration and deposition). This study reviews and compares the performance of previously and currently applied passive sampling systems. Computable fluid dynamic modeling was conducted to gain additional understanding of a gaseous oxidized Hg (GOM) passive sampler. Case studies during which passive samplers were used are also presented to demonstrate the ability of passive samplers to capture atmospheric Hg variation. A network using passive samplers would be useful for monitoring global Hg trends due to the limits of the current automated method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyan Huang
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
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Wright G, Gustin MS, Weiss-Penzias P, Miller MB. Investigation of mercury deposition and potential sources at six sites from the Pacific Coast to the Great Basin, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 470-471:1099-1113. [PMID: 24252197 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project showed that USA National Parks had fish mercury (Hg) concentrations above threshold concentrations set for wildlife. Since significant areas of the Western USA are arid, we hypothesized that dry deposition would be important. The primary question was whether sources of Hg were local and thus, easily addressed, or regional (from within the United States), or global (long range transport), and more difficult to address. To investigate this, surrogate surfaces and passive samplers for the measurement of GOM deposition and concentration, respectively, were deployed from the coast of California to the eastern edge of Nevada. Meteorological data, back trajectory modeling, and ozone concentrations were applied to better understand potential sources of Hg. Lowest seasonal mean Hg deposition (0.2 to 0.4 ng m(-2)h(-1)) was observed at low elevation (<100 m) Pacific Coast sites. Highest values were recorded at Lick Observatory, a high elevation coastal site (1,279 m), and Great Basin National Park (2,062 m) in rural eastern Nevada (1.5 to 2.4 ng m(-2)h(-1)). Intermediate values were recorded in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks (0.9 to 1.2 ng m(-2)h(-1)). Results indicate that local, regional and global sources of air pollution, specifically oxidants, are contributing to observed deposition. At Great Basin National Park air chemistry was influenced by regional urban and agricultural emissions and free troposphere inputs. Dry deposition contributed ~2 times less Hg than wet deposition at the coastal locations, but 3 to 4 times more at the higher elevation sites. Based on the spatial trends, oxidation in the marine boundary layer or ocean sources contributed ~0.4 ng m(-2)h(-1) at the coastal locations. Regional pollution and long range transport contributed 1 to 2 ng m(-2)h(-1) to other locations, and the source of Hg is global and as such, all sources are important to consider.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genine Wright
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada-Reno, MS186, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada-Reno, MS186, Reno, NV 89557, United States.
| | - Peter Weiss-Penzias
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, United States
| | - Matthieu B Miller
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada-Reno, MS186, Reno, NV 89557, United States
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Huang J, Chang FC, Wang S, Han YJ, Castro M, Miller E, Holsen TM. Mercury wet deposition in the eastern United States: characteristics and scavenging ratios. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2013; 15:2321-2328. [PMID: 24190422 DOI: 10.1039/c3em00454f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Wet deposition is an important atmospheric mercury (Hg) pathway between air and terrestrial ecosystems. It is measured at numerous locations in the United States (U. S.) as part of the Mercury Deposition Network (MDN). The annual Hg wet deposition flux in 2009 at four locations in the northeastern U. S. (MDN sites MD08, VT99, NY20, and NY43) ranged from 6.4 to 13.4 μg per m(2) year which is higher than modeled reactive Hg (RM) dry deposition for this region. The highest ambient RM concentrations were seen at MD08, which is closest to significant anthropogenic sources; however, the volume-weighted mean Hg concentrations in precipitation were similar at these four sites. Mass based scavenging ratios (SC) of RM ranged from 1700 to 4500. Differences in SCs were likely a result of differences in meteorological conditions, the forms of RM in the atmosphere, vertical concentration variations, and measurement uncertainties, including precipitation depth and RM concentrations. RM SCs were higher than those reported for other soluble species. Multiple linear regression suggests that gaseous oxidized Hg is responsible for the majority of the scavenged RM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyan Huang
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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Huang J, Miller MB, Weiss-Penzias P, Gustin MS. Comparison of gaseous oxidized Hg measured by KCl-coated denuders, and nylon and cation exchange membranes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:7307-7316. [PMID: 23651121 DOI: 10.1021/es4012349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The chemical compounds that make up gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) in the atmosphere, and the reactions responsible for their formation, are not well understood. The limitations and uncertainties associated with the current method applied to measure these compounds, the KCl-coated denuder, are not known due to lack of calibration and testing. This study systematically compared the uptake of specific GOM compounds by KCl-coated denuders with that collected using nylon and cation exchange membranes in the laboratory and field. In addition, a new method for identifying different GOM compounds using thermal desorption is presented. Different GOM compounds (HgCl2, HgBr2, and HgO) were found to have different affinities for the denuder surface and the denuder underestimated each of these compounds. Membranes measured 1.3 to 3.7 times higher GOM than denuders in laboratory and field experiments. Cation exchange membranes had the highest collection efficiency. Thermodesorption profiles for the release of GOM compounds from the nylon membrane were different for HgO versus HgBr2 and HgCl2. Application of the new field method for collection and identification of GOM compounds demonstrated these vary as a function of location and time of year. Understanding the chemistry of GOM across space and time has important implications for those developing policy regarding this environmental contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyan Huang
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664, N. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
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Huang J, Kang S, Wang S, Wang L, Zhang Q, Guo J, Wang K, Zhang G, Tripathee L. Wet deposition of mercury at Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 447:123-132. [PMID: 23376524 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Revised: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the contribution of mercury (Hg) in wet deposition is important for understanding Hg biogeochemical cycling and anthropogenic sources, and verifying atmospheric models. Mercury in wet deposition was measured over the year 2010, in Lhasa the capital and largest city in Tibet. Precipitation samples were analyzed for total Hg (HgT), particulate-bound Hg (HgP), and reactive Hg (HgR). The volume-weighted mean (VWM) concentrations and wet deposition fluxes of HgT, HgP and HgR in precipitation were 24.8 ng L-1 and 8.2 μg m-2 yr-1, 19.9 ng L-1 and 7.1 μg m-2 yr-1, and 0.5 ng L-1 and 0.19 μg m-2 yr-1, respectively. Concentrations of HgT and HgP were statistically higher during the non-monsoon season than during the monsoon season, while HgR concentrations were statistically higher during the monsoon season than during the non-monsoon season. Most HgT, HgP and HgR wet deposition occurred during the monsoon season. Concentrations of HgP and HgR were 77% and 5% of the HgT on average (VWM), respectively. Concentrations of HgT and HgP were weakly negatively correlated with precipitation amount (r2 = 0.09 and 0.10; p < 0.05), indicating that below-cloud scavenging of Hg from the local atmosphere was an important mechanism contributing Hg to precipitation. High HgP%, as well as a significant positive correlation between HgT and HgP, confirms that Hg wet deposition at Lhasa was primarily occurring in the form of atmospheric HgP below-cloud scavenging. Moreover, the HgT concentration, rather than the precipitation amount, was found to be the governing factor affecting HgT wet deposition flux. A comparison among modeled wet and dry deposition fluxes, and measurements suggested that estimates of both wet and dry Hg deposition fluxes by the GEOS-Chem model were 2 to 3 times higher than the measured annual wet flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Brown RJC, Burdon MK, Brown AS, Kim KH. Assessment of pumped mercury vapour adsorption tubes as passive samplers using a micro-exposure chamber. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 14:2456-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c2em30101f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Huang J, Choi HD, Landis MS, Holsen TM. An application of passive samplers to understand atmospheric mercury concentration and dry deposition spatial distributions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 14:2976-82. [DOI: 10.1039/c2em30514c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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