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Franzaring J, Haneke J, Sannino A, Radermacher G, Schweiger A. Effects of legacy mining on mercury concentrations in conifer needles and mushrooms in northern Palatinate, Germany. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 357:124406. [PMID: 38925211 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Due to integrated pollution prevention and control measures and the reduced burning of coal, air concentrations of mercury (Hg0) are currently levelling off. In the future, however, evasion from land surfaces will probably reverse this trend. Reasons are the rising temperatures and the loss of forest cover caused by calamities, droughts, storms and wildfires. Plant leaves constitute an important matrix for the accumulation of gaseous mercury and uptake and re-volatilisation by plants depends on the species, the vitality and the age and morphology of leaf organs. It has been shown that older conifer needles show higher concentrations than young needles and Hg accumulation is increasing throughout the season. In present study, we collected branches from Norway Spruce (Picea abies) in a former cinnabar mining region in Northern Palatinate, where artisanal and small-scale mining left innumerable waste dumps. While mining, smelting and processing of the ores were terminated during WWII, high total mercury concentrations remained in the top soils locally, with presumably only small fractions being plant available. In the lab, up to seven needle age classes were analysed. 1000 needle weights increased with age and as expected, also the Hg concentrations were elevated in the older needles. Needle concentrations were higher than those reported from other national biomonitoring programs confirming the regional imprint from legacy mercury. To complement our biomonitoring study, we collected edible mushrooms in former mining areas. Hg concentrations in most samples exceeded the EU maximum residue levels (MRL), while only a few broke the existing cadmium and lead limits. Tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for inorganic mercury would be surpassed with the consumption of a small portion of mushrooms. Further studies should be performed on the outgassing of Hg from mine wastes and the incorporation of Hg in the local food web, including its methylation and biomagnification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Franzaring
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, Department of Plant Ecology, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Jost Haneke
- The Palatinate Mining Museum Imsbach e.V., Imsbach, Germany
| | - Adele Sannino
- Core Facility Hohenheim (CFH), Analytical Chemistry Unit, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Georg Radermacher
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Schweiger
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, Department of Plant Ecology, Stuttgart, Germany
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2
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Liu X, Wang X, Wang D. Assessment of tree-ring mercury radial translocation and age effect in Masson pine: Implications for historical atmospheric mercury reconstruction. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 138:266-276. [PMID: 38135394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The tree ring has been regarded as an emerging archive to reconstruct historical atmospheric mercury (Hg) trends, but with the large knowledge gaps in the reliability. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the Hg source, radial translocation and age effect of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) tree ring at Mt. Jinyun in Chongqing, to assess the suitability of such tree ring as the archive of atmospheric Hg. Results showed that distinct variabilities among Masson pine tree-ring Hg concentration profiles. The Hg concentration significantly increased along with stem height (P < 0.05), indicating the Hg in tree rings mainly derived from foliage uptake atmospheric Hg. We found a distinct age effect that the tree ring of young trees had the higher Hg concentration. Besides, we used the advection-diffusion model to demonstrate how Hg concentration shifted by the advection or/and diffusion in tree rings. The modeling results showed that the advection induced radial translocation during the young growth period of tree was a plausible mechanism to result in the tree-ring Hg record largely different from the trend of anthropogenic Hg emissions in Chongqing. We finally suggest that in further Hg dendrochemistry, better discarding the tree-ring Hg profile of the young growth period to reduce impacts of the radial translocation and age effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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3
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Gačnik J, Gustin MS. Tree rings as historical archives of atmospheric mercury: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165562. [PMID: 37454835 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Historical concentrations of atmospheric mercury (Hg) are uncertain, as monitoring only began a few decades ago. Tree rings can serve as historical archives of Hg, providing centennial trends. The vast majority of tree-ring Hg studies have been published in the last decade, demonstrating the growing use of tree rings for Hg dendrochemistry. Thus, there is a need for a systematic review on current knowledge of tree rings as archives of atmospheric Hg. In this review, the predominant pathways of Hg uptake to tree rings are discussed, including the initial Hg uptake from the surrounding environment, fixation, and subsequent translocation. Foliar uptake of Hg was found to be the most important uptake route for Hg in tree rings, the root and bark route being negligible. Our summary of the suitability of different tree species indicates that radial translocation is the biggest limiting factor for Hg dendrochemistry, shifting and blurring historical Hg trends. Based on the review findings, Picea (spruce) and Larix (larch) are the most promising genera for Hg dendrochemistry. Additionally, the use of tree-ring Hg archives in combination with other co-located archives, namely lake sediments, peat, and ice, is suggested as it enhances the viability of observed tree-ring historical Hg trends. Finally, we propose future directions and recommendations for research using tree-ring Hg, including sampling protocols, experimental designs, and tree selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gačnik
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, USA.
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
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Schneider L, Fisher JA, Diéguez MC, Fostier AH, Guimaraes JRD, Leaner JJ, Mason R. A synthesis of mercury research in the Southern Hemisphere, part 1: Natural processes. AMBIO 2023; 52:897-917. [PMID: 36943620 PMCID: PMC10073387 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01832-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrate a short 3-6-month atmospheric lifetime for mercury (Hg). This implies Hg emissions are predominantly deposited within the same hemisphere in which they are emitted, thus placing increasing importance on considering Hg sources, sinks and impacts from a hemispheric perspective. In the absence of comprehensive Hg data from the Southern Hemisphere (SH), estimates and inventories for the SH have been drawn from data collected in the NH, with the assumption that the NH data are broadly applicable. In this paper, we centre the uniqueness of the SH in the context of natural biogeochemical Hg cycling, with focus on the midlatitudes and tropics. Due to its uniqueness, Antarctica warrants an exclusive review of its contribution to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg and is therefore excluded from this review. We identify and describe five key natural differences between the hemispheres that affect the biogeochemical cycling of Hg: biome heterogeneity, vegetation type, ocean area, methylation hotspot zones and occurence of volcanic activities. We review the current state of knowledge of SH Hg cycling within the context of each difference, as well as the key gaps that impede our understanding of natural Hg cycling in the SH. The differences demonstrate the limitations in using NH data to infer Hg processes and emissions in the SH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Schneider
- School of Culture, History and Language. Australian National University, Coombs Bld 9 Fellows Rd, Acton. Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Jenny A. Fisher
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - María C. Diéguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional del Comahue), 1250 San Carlos de Bariloche (8400), Quintral Argentina
| | - Anne-Hélène Fostier
- Instituto de Química/Unicamp, Rua Josué de Castro, s/n – Cidade Universitária, Campinas, SP 13083-970 Brazil
| | - Jean R. D. Guimaraes
- Lab. de Traçadores, Inst. de Biofísica, Bloco G, CCS (Centro de Ciências da Saúde), Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão CEP 21941-902 Brazil
| | - Joy J. Leaner
- Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape Government, 1 Dorp Street, Western Cape, Cape Town, 8001 South Africa
| | - Robert Mason
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340 USA
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Nováková T, Navrátil T, Schütze M, Rohovec J, Matoušková Š, Hošek M, Matys Grygar T. Reconstructing atmospheric Hg levels near the oldest chemical factory in central Europe using a tree ring archive. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119215. [PMID: 35358634 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Chemical Factory in Marktredwitz (CFM) is known as the oldest chemical factory in Germany (1778-1985), and from the beginning of the 20th century focused primarily on the production of mercury (Hg) compounds. Due to extensive pollution, together with employee health issues, the CFM was shut in 1985 by a government order and remediation works proceeded from 1986 to 1993. In this study, tree ring archives of European Larch (Larix decidua Mill.) were used to reconstruct changes of air Hg levels near the CFM. Mercury concentrations in larch boles decreased from 80.6 μg kg-1 at a distance of 0.34 km-3.4 μg kg-1 at a distance of 16 km. The temporal trend of atmospheric Hg emissions from the CFM reconstructed from the tree ring archives showed two main peaks. The first was in the 1920s, with a maximum tree ring Hg concentration 249.1 ± 43.9 μg kg-1 coinciding with when the factory had a worldwide monopoly on the production of Hg-based seed dressing fungicide. The second peak in the 1970s, with a maximum tree ring Hg concentration of 116.4 ± 6.3 μg kg-1, was associated with a peak in the general usage and production of Hg chemicals and goods. We used the tree ring record to reconstruct past atmospheric Hg levels using a simple model of Hg distribution between the larch tree rings and atmosphere. The precision of the tree ring model was checked against the results of air Hg measurements during the CFM remediation 30 years ago. According to the tree ring archives, the highest air Hg concentrations in the 1920s in Marktredwitz were over 70 ng m-3. Current air Hg levels of 1.18 ng m-3, assessed in the city of Marktredwitz, indicate the lowest air Hg in the past 150 years, underscoring the effective remediation of the CFM premises 30 years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Nováková
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Navrátil
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Schütze
- Institut für Geoökologie, AG Umweltgeochemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19C, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jan Rohovec
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Matoušková
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Hošek
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 250 01, Řež, Czech Republic; Faculty of Environment, J.E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Matys Grygar
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 250 01, Řež, Czech Republic
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Thomas ZA, Mooney S, Cadd H, Baker A, Turney C, Schneider L, Hogg A, Haberle S, Green K, Weyrich LS, Pérez V, Moore NE, Zawadzki A, Kelloway SJ, Khan SJ. Late Holocene climate anomaly concurrent with fire activity and ecosystem shifts in the eastern Australian Highlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149542. [PMID: 34454138 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The alpine area of the Australian mainland is highly sensitive to climate and environmental change, and potentially vulnerable to ecosystem tipping points. Over the next two decades the Australian alpine region is predicted to experience temperature increases of at least 1 °C, coupled with a substantial decrease in snow cover. Extending the short instrumental record in these regions is imperative to put future change into context, and potentially provide analogues of warming. We reconstructed past temperatures, using a lipid biomarker palaeothermometer technique and mercury flux changes for the past 3500 years from the sediments of Club Lake, a high-altitude alpine tarn in the Snowy Mountains, southeastern Australia. Using a multi-proxy framework, including pollen and charcoal analyses, high-resolution geochemistry, and ancient microbial community composition, supported by high-resolution 210Pb and AMS 14C dating, we investigated local and regional ecological and environmental changes occurring in response to changes in temperature. We find the region experienced a general warming trend over the last 3500 years, with a pronounced climate anomaly occurring between 1000 and 1600 cal yrs. BP. Shifts in vegetation took place during this warm period, characterised by a decline in alpine species and an increase in open woodland taxa which co-occurred with an increase in regional fire activity. Given the narrow altitudinal band of Australian alpine vegetation, any future warming has the potential to result in the extinction of alpine species, including several endemic to the area, as treelines are driven to higher elevations. These findings suggest ongoing conservation efforts will be needed to protect the vulnerable alpine environments from the combined threats of climate changes, fire and invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë A Thomas
- Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia.
| | - Scott Mooney
- Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia
| | - Haidee Cadd
- Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia
| | - Andy Baker
- Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia
| | - Chris Turney
- Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia
| | - Larissa Schneider
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia; School of Culture, History and Language. Australian National University. Coombs Bld 9, Fellows Rd., 2601 Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alan Hogg
- Waikato Radiocarbon Laboratory, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Simon Haberle
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia; School of Culture, History and Language. Australian National University. Coombs Bld 9, Fellows Rd., 2601 Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ken Green
- College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Laura S Weyrich
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia; Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide, Australia; Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States; Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Vilma Pérez
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Nicole E Moore
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Atun Zawadzki
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Sarah J Kelloway
- Sydney Analytical, University of Sydney, Madsen Building, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Stuart J Khan
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia
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7
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Amais RS, Moreau PS, Francischini DS, Magnusson R, Locosselli GM, Godoy-Veiga M, Ceccantini G, Ortega Rodriguez DR, Tomazello-Filho M, Arruda MAZ. Trace elements distribution in tropical tree rings through high-resolution imaging using LA-ICP-MS analysis. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2021; 68:126872. [PMID: 34628231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The distribution of trace elements in tree rings although poorly known may be useful to better understand environmental changes, pollution trends, long-term droughts, forest dieback processes, and biology of trees. METHOD Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is used for imaging micronutrients and potentially toxic elements distribution, allowing the investigation of trace elements at high spatial resolution within the tree rings. To ensure a more efficient determination of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements, LA-ICP-MS instrumental conditions were optimized and carbon, a major element in wood, is used as an internal standard during analysis to correct for random fluctuations. RESULTS Spatial distributions maps of Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb in growth layers of six tropical tree species were built-up using the LA-iMageS software, namely: Amburana cearensis (Fabaceae), Cedrela fissilis (Meliaceae), Hymenaea courbaril (Fabaceae), Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae), Parapiptadenia zehntneri (Fabaceae), Peltogyne paniculata (Fabaceae). A correlation between the trace element composition and different cell types (parenchyma, fiber, and vessel) was distinctly observed. It was observed a general pattern of Ba, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Pb accumulation mainly in the axial parenchyma and vessels. But the elemental composition of xylem cells is strongly species dependent. The multivariate analysis also points to a distinct accumulation of minerals between heartwood and sapwood in the same species. CONCLUSIONS Imaging both essential and deleterious element distributions in the tree rings may improve visualization and can effectively contribute to understanding the lifetime metabolism of trees and evaluating the effects of environmental changes related to climatic seasonality, pollution, and future paleoclimate reconstructions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata S Amais
- Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization Group (GEPAM), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, PO Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil.
| | - Pedro S Moreau
- Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization Group (GEPAM), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, PO Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Danielle S Francischini
- Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization Group (GEPAM), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, PO Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Rafael Magnusson
- Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization Group (GEPAM), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, PO Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | | | - Milena Godoy-Veiga
- University of São Paulo, Institute of Biosciences, Department of Botany, Rua do Matão, 277, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Gregório Ceccantini
- University of São Paulo, Institute of Biosciences, Department of Botany, Rua do Matão, 277, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Daigard R Ortega Rodriguez
- University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Department of Forest Sciences, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Mario Tomazello-Filho
- University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Department of Forest Sciences, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Marco A Z Arruda
- Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization Group (GEPAM), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, PO Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
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Zhou J, Obrist D. Global Mercury Assimilation by Vegetation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:14245-14257. [PMID: 34617727 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Assimilation of mercury (Hg) by vegetation represents one of the largest global environmental Hg mass fluxes. We estimate Hg assimilation by vegetation globally via a bottom-up scaling approach using tissue Hg concentrations synthesized from a comprehensive database multiplied by respective annual biomass production (NPP). As global annual NPP is close to annual vegetation die-off, Hg mass associated with global NPP approximates the transfer of Hg from plants to soils, which represents an estimate of vegetation-mediated atmospheric deposition. Annual vegetation assimilation of Hg from combined atmospheric and soil uptake is estimated at 3062 ± 607 Mg yr-1, which is composed of 2491 ± 551 Mg yr-1 from aboveground tissue uptake and 571 ± 253 Mg yr-1 from root uptake. Assimilation of atmospheric Hg amounts to 2422 ± 483 Mg yr-1 when considering aboveground tissues only. Atmospheric assimilation increases to 2705 ± 504 Mg yr-1 when considering that root Hg may be partially derived from prior foliar uptake and transported internally to roots. Estimated atmospheric Hg assimilation by vegetation is 54-137% larger than the current model and litterfall estimates, largely because of the inclusion of lichens, mosses, and woody tissues in deposition and all global biomes. Belowground, about 50% of root Hg was taken up from soils with currently unknown ecological and biogeochemical consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhou
- Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Daniel Obrist
- Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
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Wang X, Yuan W, Lin CJ, Wu F, Feng X. Stable mercury isotopes stored in Masson Pinus tree rings as atmospheric mercury archives. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 415:125678. [PMID: 33765566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The accuracy of mercury (Hg) dendrochemistry has been questioned because significant knowledge gaps exist in understanding the Hg translocation and mobility in tree-ring. In this study, we evaluated Hg concentrations and isotopic profiles in the tree-ring at a Hg artisanal mining site and a control site with the documented local Hg production inventory. Results show that the Hg concentration accumulated in tree-ring fails to reconstruct the temporal trend of Hg production due to confounded tree physiological and environmental factors, specifically, the radial translocation and tree age effects occurring during the fast-growing period. The temporal profiles of δ202Hg exhibit pronounced tree-specific variabilities due to the complexity of Hg isotopic mass dependent fractionation during atmospheric Hg uptake and translocation in vegetation. The Hg odd-MIF (mass independent fractionation) profiles in tree-ring can reconstruct a decadal-scale temporal trend of the atmospheric Hg0 pollution level, and also be used as a tracer to distinguish the emission source shifts of atmospheric Hg0. However, the radial translocation would result in uncertainties at the higher resolution because of the mixing of odd-MIF signatures with active rings. Caution should be taken and additional supporting evidence collected from independent methods should be used for verifying the tree-ring records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China; College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University, Beaumont 77710, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont 77710, USA
| | - Fei Wu
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Area and Protection of Ecological Environment of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China; Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xian 710061, China.
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10
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Wang X, Wang C, Gong P, Wang X, Zhu H, Gao S. Century-long record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from tree rings in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 412:125152. [PMID: 33540264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Limited studies have been carried out on the historical variations of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially in remote regions of the world. In this study, century-long record of PAHs (1916-2018) were reconstructed from tree rings in the remote southeastern Tibetan Plateau (TP). The total concentrations of 15 PAHs varied from 27.5 to 6.05 × 102 ng/g dry weight (dw), with a mean value of 1.40 × 102 ng/g dw. Higher levels of PAHs were observed during World War Ⅱ and the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, and increasing trends were observed starting from rapid industrialization in India. Both the isomer ratios and the positive matrix factorization model results indicated biomass and coal combustion were the dominant sources of PAHs. The carcinogenic risk of PAHs to local residents was assessed, which might have been negligible in most past periods and lower than in other regions of the world. Nevertheless, since the beginning of the 21st century, the cancer risk has been increasing year by year, indicating more actions are needed to reduce emissions of PAHs. This study provides an idea for reconstructing the pollution history of PAHs at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, School of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chuanfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; South-East Tibetan Plateau Station for Integrated Observation and Research of Alpine Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nyingchi 860119, China.
| | - Ping Gong
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, School of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Haifeng Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shaopeng Gao
- 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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Nováková T, Navrátil T, Demers JD, Roll M, Rohovec J. Contrasting tree ring Hg records in two conifer species: Multi-site evidence of species-specific radial translocation effects in Scots pine versus European larch. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:144022. [PMID: 33360336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Tree ring records are increasingly being used as a geochemical archive of past atmospheric mercury (Hg) pollution. However, it is not clear whether all tree species can be used reliably for this purpose. We compared tree-ring Hg records of two coniferous species - widely used Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and less frequently used European larch (Larix decidua) at 6 study sites across the Czech Republic. Site-specific mean Hg concentrations in tree-ring segments of larch ranged from 2.1 to 5.2 μg kg-1, whereas pine had higher mean Hg concentrations (3.6-8.3 μg kg-1). Temporal records of Hg concentrations in tree rings of larch and pine differed significantly. Comparisons with previously documented peat Hg records showed that larch tree-ring Hg records more closely agreed with peat archive records. For pines, which had a large, tree-age dependent number of sapwood rings (62 ± 17, 1SD), we found a strong relationship between the year of peak Hg and the number of sapwood tree rings (p = 0.012, r2 = 0.35), as well as between peak Hg year and the sapwood-heartwood boundary year (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.65), rather than with temporal changes in atmospheric Hg levels. The much greater number of pine sapwood tree rings appears to promote radial Hg translocation, resulting in the shift of Hg peaks backward in time through the tree-ring record. In contrast, Larch consistently had a low number of sapwood tree rings (19 ± 6, 1SD), and more closely agreed with peat Hg records. This study suggests that European larch, a tree species characterized by a relatively low and consistent number of sapwood tree rings, records changes in atmospheric Hg concentrations more reliably than does Scots pine, a species with a relatively high and variable number of sapwood tree rings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Nováková
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Navrátil
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jason D Demers
- University of Michigan, 1100 North University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Michal Roll
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Rohovec
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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Binda G, Di Iorio A, Monticelli D. The what, how, why, and when of dendrochemistry: (paleo)environmental information from the chemical analysis of tree rings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 758:143672. [PMID: 33277003 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The chemical analysis of tree rings has attracted the interest of researchers in the past five decades in view of the possibility of exploiting this biological indicator as a widely available, high-resolution environmental archive. Information regarding the surrounding environment can be derived either by directly measuring environmental variables (nutrient availability, presence of pollutants, etc.) or by exploiting proxies (e.g. paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions). This review systematically covers the topic and provides a critical view on the reliability of dendrochemical information. First, we introduce the determinable chemical species, such as major elements, trace metals, isotopic ratios, and organic compounds, together with a brief description of their uptake mechanisms and functions in trees. Subsequently, we present the possibilities offered by analytical techniques in the field of tree ring analysis, focusing on direct methods and recent developments. The latter strongly improved the details of the accessible information, enabling the investigation of complex phenomena associated with plant life and encouraging the direct analysis of new analytes, particularly minor organic compounds. With regard to their applications, dendrochemical proxies have been used to trace several processes, such as environmental contamination, paleoclimate reconstruction, global environmental changes, tree physiology, extreme events, ecological trends, and dendroprovenance. Several case studies are discussed for each proposed application, with special emphasis on the reliability of tracing each process. Starting from the reviewed literature data, the second part of the paper is devoted to the critical assessment of the reliability of tree ring proxies. We provide an overview of the current knowledge, discuss the limitations of the inferences that may be drawn from the dendrochemical data, and provide recommendations for the best practices to be used for their validation. Finally, we present the future perspectives related to the advancements in analytical instrumentation and further extension of application fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Binda
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio, 12, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Antonino Di Iorio
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Jean Henry Dunant, 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano Monticelli
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio, 12, 22100 Como, Italy.
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Martínez Cortizas A, Horák-Terra I, Pérez-Rodríguez M, Bindler R, Cooke CA, Kylander M. Structural equation modeling of long-term controls on mercury and bromine accumulation in Pinheiro mire (Minas Gerais, Brazil). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 757:143940. [PMID: 33321335 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The application of statistical modeling is still infrequent in mercury research in peat, despite the ongoing debate on the weight of the diverse factors (climate, peat decomposition, vegetation changes, etc.) that may affect mercury accumulation. One of the few exceptions is the Hg record of Pinheiro mire (souheast Brazil). Previous studies on this mire modeled mercury using principal components regression and partial least squares. These methods assume independence between factors, which is seldom the case in natural systems, thus hampering the identification of mediating effects and interactions. To overcome these limitations, in this reserach we use structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to model mercury and bromine peat records - bromine has been used in some investigations to normalize mercury accumuation. The mercury model explained 83% of the variance and suggested a complex control: increased peat decomposition, dust deposition and humid climates enhanced mercury accumulation, while increased mineral fluxes resulted in a decrease in mercury accumulation. The bromine model explained 90% of the variation in concentrations: increased dust deposition and peat decomposition promoted bromine accumulation, while time (i.e. peat age) promoted bromine depletion. Thus, although mercury and bromine are both organically bound elements with relevant atmospheric cycles the weights of the factors involved in their accumulation differed significantly. Our results suggest caution when using bromine to normalize mercury accumulation. PLS-SEM results indicate a large time dependence of peat decomposition, catchment mineral fluxes, long-term climate change, and atmospheric deposition; while atmospheric dust, mineral fluxes and peat decomposition showed high to moderate climate dependency. In particular, they also point to a relevant role of autogenic processes (i.e. the build up and expansion of the mire within the catchment), which controlled local mineral fluxes; an aspect that has seldom been considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Martínez Cortizas
- Ecopast (GI-1553), Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Ingrid Horák-Terra
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Unaí, Brazil
| | - Marta Pérez-Rodríguez
- Institut für Geoökologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Richard Bindler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden
| | - Colin A Cooke
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Malin Kylander
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Clackett SP, Porter TJ, Lehnherr I. The tree-ring mercury record of Klondike gold mining at Bear Creek, central Yukon. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115777. [PMID: 33120147 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Use of elemental mercury (Hg0) to enhance placer gold recovery is an effective method dating back centuries, but is associated with significant atmospheric Hg0 losses. This method was widely used in the Canadian Klondike region during most of the 20th century when the mining industry experienced rapid growth. While the health risks associated with Hg0 pollution are now well understood, few studies have assessed the environmental legacy of Hg0 use in the Klondike. We used an annually resolved Picea glauca tree-ring Hg record (1864-2015) to reconstruct and evaluate changes in local atmospheric Hg0 concentrations associated with gold production at the Bear Creek mining camp. Major temporal trends in the record are consistent with the scale of Bear Creek operations and are distinct from background trends at an unimpacted control site. Tree-ring Hg concentration increased most rapidly from 1923 to 1930, a period when several major mining operations were consolidated at Bear Creek. The highest Hg concentrations, ∼2.5× greater than pre-mining era, occurred in the 1930s, coinciding with maximum gold production at this site. Post-World War II economic factors adversely affected the industry, causing declining tree-ring Hg concentrations from 1939 to 1966. Closure of the Bear Creek camp in 1966 coincided with the strongest tree-ring Hg decline, although a return to background levels did not occur until the 1990s, likely due to re-emission of legacy Hg0 from contaminated soils. Finally, a robust increase was observed over the last decade, similar to other tree-ring Hg records in N.W. Canada, which is linked to rising Hg0 emissions in Asia. The Bear Creek tree-ring Hg record provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of Klondike gold mining on the local environment at annual resolution and demonstrates great potential to use Picea tree rings to study past changes in atmospheric Hg0 from local and global emissions. MAIN FINDINGS: A 151-year long, annually resolved tree-ring Hg record was developed at a historic Klondike gold-mining site to investigate the influence of mining-related Hg0 emissions on the local atmosphere and environment. Compared to a control site, the tree-ring Hg record documents highly elevated atmospheric Hg0 concentrations during the period mining activities were ongoing at this site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney P Clackett
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto - Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada
| | - Trevor J Porter
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto - Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada.
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto - Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada
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Chellman N, Csank A, Gustin MS, Arienzo MM, Vargas Estrada M, McConnell JR. Comparison of co-located ice-core and tree-ring mercury records indicates potential radial translocation of mercury in whitebark pine. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 743:140695. [PMID: 32679494 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tree-ring records are a potential archive for reconstructing long-term historical trends in atmospheric mercury (Hg) concentrations. Although Hg preserved in tree rings has been shown to be derived largely from the atmosphere, quantitative relationships linking atmospheric concentrations to those in tree rings are limited. In addition, few tree-ring-based Hg records have been evaluated against co-located proxies of atmospheric Hg deposition or direct atmospheric measurements. Here we develop long-term Hg records extending from 1800 to 2018 CE using cores collected from two stands of whitebark pine located near the Upper Fremont Glacier in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, where a long-term record of atmospheric Hg deposition previously was developed from an ice core. The tree ring record showed that Hg concentrations increased beginning in 1800 CE to a broad peak centered at ~1960 CE, before decreasing to present, generally paralleling the ice-core record of Hg deposition. The exact timing and magnitude of the Hg increases in the trees, however, is offset earlier relative to the ice-core record. These discrepancies potentially arise from biotic processes that impact Hg uptake and preservation in whitebark pine, and results from an advection-diffusion model indicate that the temporal differences are consistent with radial movement of Hg within the trees. The forms of atmospheric Hg and seasonality may also impact the Hg record preserved by each archive, but are less likely to affect long-term trends. Further work is needed to assess radial Hg translocation in more controlled studies with larger sample sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Chellman
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Reno, NV 89512, United States; Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States.
| | - Adam Csank
- Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Monica M Arienzo
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Reno, NV 89512, United States
| | - Margarita Vargas Estrada
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Joseph R McConnell
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Reno, NV 89512, United States
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Jeon B, Cizdziel JV. Determination of Metals in Tree Rings by ICP-MS Using Ash from a Direct Mercury Analyzer. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25092126. [PMID: 32370081 PMCID: PMC7248844 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25092126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Elemental profiles in cores of tree trunks (bole wood) have been used for environmental monitoring and reconstruction of metal pollution history. Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that can be accurately measured in tree rings in a simple and pragmatic fashion using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA) that is based on thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In this feasibility study, we demonstrate that the ash remaining after the DMA analyses can be used to quantify a wide range of other non-volatile elements (Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Th, and U) in that same sample of wood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave-assisted acid digestion. Other elements (Ag, Cd, Cs, Rb, Tl, and V) exhibited poor recoveries, possibly due to losses during sample preparation. We assessed the accuracy with reference materials, spikes, and by comparison with EPA Method 3052 (Microwave Assisted Acid Digestion of Siliceous and Organically Based Matrices). For the first group of elements (deemed suitable for the method), recoveries ranged between 80% and 120% and the relative standard deviation was generally < 15%, indicating acceptable precision. We applied the method to five species of trees: eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), white oak (Quercus alba), and tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) from Holly Springs National Forest in north Mississippi, USA. Mercury concentrations (ng/g ± SE) were highest in the cedar (1.8 ± 0.3; n = 5), followed by loblolly pine (1.6 ± 0.3, n = 3), shortleaf pine (1.2 ± 0.2; n = 3), oak (1.1 ± 0.2; n = 5), and poplar (0.5 ± 0.1; n = 5). Concentrations of other elements were generally Fe > Mg > Ba ≈ Sr ≈ Mn > Cr ≈ Cu > Ni ≈ Rb > Co > Ga ≈ Ag, with the other elements generally below the method detection limit (MDL). Overall, we showed that the DMA can be used to not only determine total Hg in segments of tree core, but can serve as the ashing step in the preparation of wood for ICP-MS analysis, thus allowing the determination of non-volatile elements along with Hg in the very same sample.
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Cooke CA, Martínez-Cortizas A, Bindler R, Sexauer Gustin M. Environmental archives of atmospheric Hg deposition - A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 709:134800. [PMID: 31887515 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental archives offer an opportunity to reconstruct temporal trends in atmospheric Hg deposition at various timescales. Lake sediment and peat have been the most widely used archives; however, new records from ice, tree rings, and the measurement of Hg stable isotopes, are offering new insights into past Hg cycling. Preindustrial Hg deposition has been studied over decadal to millennial timescales extending as far back as the late Pleistocene. Exploitation of mercury deposits (mainly cinnabar) first began during the mid to late Holocene in South America, Europe, and Asia, but increased dramatically during the Colonial era (1532-1900) for silver production. However, evidence for preindustrial Hg pollution is restricted to regions directly downwind or downstream of cinnabar or precious metal mining centers. Excluding these areas, there has been an approximately four-fold increase in atmospheric deposition globally over the industrial era (i.e., since 1800-1850), though regional differences exist, especially during the early 20th Century. Lake sediments, peat, ice, and tree rings are all influenced by (and integrate) a range of processes. For example, lake sediments are influenced by atmospheric deposition, sediment focusing, and the input of allochthonous material from the watershed, peat records reflect atmospheric deposition and biotic uptake, ice cores are a record of Hg scrubbed during precipitation, and tree rings record atmospheric concentrations. No archive represents an absolute record of past Hg deposition or concentrations, and post-depositional transformation of Hg profiles remains an important topic of research. However, natural archives continue to provide important insight into atmospheric Hg cycling over various timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin A Cooke
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada; Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5C6 Canada.
| | - Antonio Martínez-Cortizas
- EcoPast (GI-1553), Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Richard Bindler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada-Reno Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Forbes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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