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Aslam MW, Meng B, Ali W, Abrar MM, Abdelhafiz MA, Feng X. Low mercury risks in paddy soils across the Pakistan. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173879. [PMID: 38857798 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173879] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed heavy metal. Here, we study Hg concentration and isotopic composition to understand the status of Hg pollution and its sources in Pakistan's paddy soil. The collected paddy soils (n = 500) across the country have an average THg concentration of 22.30 ± 21.74 ng/g. This low mean concentration suggests Hg pollution in Pakistan was not as severe as previously thought. Meanwhile, samples collected near brick kilns and industrial areas were significantly higher in THg than others, suggesting the influence of Hg emitted from point sources in certain areas. Soil physicochemical properties showed typical characteristic of mineral soils due to the study area's arid to semi-arid climate. Hg stable isotopes analysis, depicted mean Δ199Hg of -0.05 ± 0.12‰ and mean δ202Hg -0.45 ± 0.35‰, respectively, for contaminated sites, depicting Hg was primarily sourced from coal combustion by local anthropogenic sources. While uncontaminated sites show mean Δ199Hg of 0.15 ± 0.08‰, mean Δ200Hg of 0.06 ± 0.07‰ and mean δ202Hg of -0.32 ± 0.28‰, implying long-range transboundry Hg transport through wet Hg(II) deposition as a dominant Hg source. This study fills a significant knowledge gap regarding the Hg pollution status in Pakistan and suggests that the Hg risk in Pakistan paddies is generally low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Wajahat Aslam
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China
| | - Bo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China.
| | - Waqar Ali
- Department of Ecological Sciences and Engineering, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China
| | - Muhammad Mohsin Abrar
- College of Resources and Environment, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, 510225 Guangzhou, China; Engineering and Technology Research Center for Agricultural Land Pollution and Integrated Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mahmoud A Abdelhafiz
- Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
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Wang C, Yang S, Li R, Yan J, Hu Y, Lai C, Li Z, Li P, Zhang L, Feng X. Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations and Isotopic Compositions Impacted by Typical Anthropogenic Mercury Emissions Sources. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39252629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) and cement plants (CPs) are important anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emission sources. Mercury speciation profiles in flue gas are different among these sources, leading to significant variations in local atmospheric Hg deposition. To quantify the impacts of Hg emissions from CFPPs and CPs on local-scale atmospheric Hg deposition, this study determined concentrations and isotopes of ambient gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), particulate-bound mercury (PBM), and precipitation total Hg (THg) at multiple locations with different distances away from a CFPP and a CP. Higher concentrations of GEM and precipitation THg in the CFPP area in summer were caused by higher Hg emission from the CFPP, resulting from higher electricity demand. Higher concentrations of GEM, PBM, and precipitation THg in the CP area in winter compared to those in summer were related to the higher output of cement. Atmospheric Hg concentration peaked near the CFPP and CP and decreased with distance from the plants. Elevated GEM concentration in the CFPP area was due to flue gas Hg0 emissions, and high PBM and precipitation Hg concentrations in the CP area were attributed to divalent Hg emissions. It was estimated that Hg emissions from the CFPP contributed 58.3 ± 20.9 and 52.3 ± 25.9% to local GEM and PBM, respectively, and those from the CP contributed 47.0 ± 16.7 and 60.0 ± 25.9% to local GEM and PBM, respectively. This study demonstrates that speciated Hg from anthropogenic emissions posed distinct impacts on the local atmospheric Hg cycle, indicating that Hg speciation profiles from these sources should be considered for evaluating the effectiveness of emission reduction policies. This study also highlights the Hg isotope as a useful tool for monitoring environmental Hg emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shaochen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Ruolan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junyao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Yanxin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Chuyan Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhonggen Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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3
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Dominutti PA, Mari X, Jaffrezo JL, Dinh VTN, Chifflet S, Guigue C, Guyomarc'h L, Vu CT, Darfeuil S, Ginot P, Elazzouzi R, Mhadhbi T, Voiron C, Martinot P, Uzu G. Disentangling fine particles (PM 2.5) composition in Hanoi, Vietnam: Emission sources and oxidative potential. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171466. [PMID: 38447718 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
A comprehensive chemical characterization of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was conducted at an urban site in one of the most densely populated cities of Vietnam, Hanoi. Chemical analysis of a series of 57 daily PM2.5 samples obtained in 2019-2020 included the quantification of a detailed set of chemical tracers as well as the oxidative potential (OP), which estimates the ability of PM to catalyze reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in vivo as an initial step of health effects due to oxidative stress. The PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 8.3 to 148 μg m-3, with an annual average of 40.2 ± 26.3 μg m-3 (from September 2019 to December 2020). Our results obtained by applying the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) source-receptor apportionment model showed the contribution of nine PM2.5 sources. The main anthropogenic sources contributing to the PM mass concentrations were heavy fuel oil (HFO) combustion (25.3 %), biomass burning (20 %), primary traffic (7.6 %) and long-range transport aerosols (10.6 %). The OP activities were evaluated for the first time in an urban site in Vietnam. The average OPv levels obtained in our study were 3.9 ± 2.4 and 4.5 ± 3.2 nmol min-1 m-3 for OPDTT and OPAA, respectively. We assessed the contribution to OPDTT and OPAA of each PM2.5 source by applying multilinear regression models. It shows that the sources associated with human activities (HFO combustion, biomass burning and primary traffic) are the sources driving OP exposure, suggesting that they should be the first sources to be controlled in future mitigation strategies. This study gives for the first time an extensive and long-term chemical characterization of PM2.5, providing also a link between emission sources, ambient concentrations and exposure to air pollution at an urban site in Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela A Dominutti
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Xavier Mari
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Luc Jaffrezo
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Vy Thuy Ngoc Dinh
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Sandrine Chifflet
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Catherine Guigue
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Lea Guyomarc'h
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Cam Tu Vu
- Water-Environment-Oceanography (WEO) Department, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Sophie Darfeuil
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Patrick Ginot
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Rhabira Elazzouzi
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Takoua Mhadhbi
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Céline Voiron
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Pauline Martinot
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Gaëlle Uzu
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, G-INP, IGE (UMR 5001), 38000 Grenoble, France.
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Hu J, Zheng L, Liu S, Chen Y, Li C, Ni J, Chen Y, An S. Quantifying the impacts of coal mining activities on topsoil using Hg stable isotope: A case study of Guqiao mining area, Huainan City. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122378. [PMID: 37586683 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122378] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The Hg released from coal mining activities can endanger soil ecosystems and pose a risk to human health. Understanding the accumulation characteristics of mercury (Hg) in coal mining soil is important for effectively controlling Hg emissions and developing measures for the prevention and control of Hg contamination. To identify the potential sources of Hg in soils, the Hg concentration and isotopic composition characteristics of raw coal and different topsoil types from the areas surrounding a coal mine were determined in this study. The results showed that Hg in coal mainly exists mainly in the form of inorganic Hg, and Hg has experienced Hg2+ photoreduction prior to incorporating into coal. In addition, the composition of Hg isotopes differed significantly among different topsoil types, and the δ202Hg value of the farmland soil exhibited large negative excursions compared to the coal mining soil. The ternary mixed model further revealed the presence of substantial differences in potential Hg sources among the two regions, with the coal mining soil being greatly disturbed by anthropogenic activity, and the relative contributions of Hg from raw coal, coal gangue, and background soil to coal mining soil being 33.42%, 34.4%, and 32.19%, respectively. However, Hg from raw coal, coal gangue and background soil contributed 17.04%, 21.46%, and 61.51% of the Hg in the farmland soil, indicating that the accumulation of Hg in farmland soil was derived primarily from the background soil. Our study demonstrated that secondary pollution in soil caused by immense accumulation of solid waste (gangue) by mining activities offers a significant challenge to ecological security. These findings provide new insights into controlling soil Hg in mining areas and further highlight the urgency of strict protective measures for contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Liugen Zheng
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
| | - Sikui Liu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Yeyu Chen
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Chang Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Jincheng Ni
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Yongchun Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory of Coal Mine Ecological Environment Protection, Huainan, 232001, Anhui, China
| | - Shikai An
- National Engineering Laboratory of Coal Mine Ecological Environment Protection, Huainan, 232001, Anhui, China
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5
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Richter L, Amouroux D, Tessier E, Fostier AH. Impact of forest fire on the mercury stable isotope composition in litter and soil in the Amazon. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 339:139779. [PMID: 37567261 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139779] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) emissions from forest fires, especially tropical forests such as the Amazonian forest, were shown to contribute significantly to the atmospheric mercury budget, but new methods are still necessary to improve the traceability and to reduce the great uncertainties related to this emission source. Recent studies have shown that the combustion process can result in Hg stable isotope fractionation that allows tracking coal combustion Hg emissions, as influenced by different factors such as combustion temperature. The main goal of the present study was, therefore, to investigate for the first time the potential of Hg stable isotopes to trace forest fire Hg emissions and pathways. More specifically, small-scale and a large scale prescribed forest fire experiments were conducted in the Brazilian Amazonian forest to study the impact of fire severity on Hg isotopic composition of litter, soil, and ash samples and associated Hg isotope fractionation pathways. In the small-scale experiment, no difference was found in the mercury isotopic composition of the samples collected before and after burning. In contrast, the larger-scale experiment resulted in significant mass dependent fractionation (MDF δ202Hg) in soils and ash suggesting that higher combustion temperature influence Hg isotopic fractionation with the emission of lighter Hg isotopes to the atmosphere and enrichment with heavier Hg in ashes. As for coal combustion, mass independent fractionation was not observed. To our knowledge, these results are the first to highlight the potential of forest fires to cause Hg isotopic fractionation, depending on the fire severity. The results also allowed to establish an isotopic fingerprint for tropical forest fire Hg emissions that corresponds to a mixture of litter and soil Hg isotopic composition (resulting atmospheric δ202Hg, Δ200Hg and Δ199Hg were -1.79 ± 0.24‰, -0.05 ± 0.04‰ and -0.45 ± 0.12‰, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Richter
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David Amouroux
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-chimie pour L'Environnement et Les Matériaux, Pau, France.
| | - Emmanuel Tessier
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-chimie pour L'Environnement et Les Matériaux, Pau, France
| | - Anne Hélène Fostier
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Tate MT, Janssen SE, Lepak RF, Flucke L, Krabbenhoft DP. National-Scale Assessment of Total Gaseous Mercury Isotopes Across the United States. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. ATMOSPHERES : JGR 2023; 128:1-15. [PMID: 37593527 PMCID: PMC10430761 DOI: 10.1029/2022jd038276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
With the 2011 promulgation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the successful negotiation by the United Nations Environment Program of the Minamata Convention, emissions of mercury (Hg) have declined in the United States. While the declines in atmospheric Hg concentrations in North America are encouraging, linking the declines to changing domestic and global source portfolios remains challenging. To address these research gaps, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated the first national-scale effort to establish a baseline of total gaseous mercury stable isotope values at 31 sites distributed across the United States. Results indicated that unique Hg sources, such as Hg evasion from an elemental Hg contaminated site or free tropospheric intrusions in high altitude sites, were distinguishable from background atmospheric values. Minor gradients were observed across the nation, with regions of heavy industrial activity demonstrating lower δ 202 Hg , but no consistent changes in other isotopes such as Δ 199 Hg and Δ 200 Hg were observed. Furthermore, δ 202 Hg was impacted by foliar uptake and senescence but trends varied between forested regions in the northeastern and midwestern United States. These data demonstrate regional emission sources and other environmental variables can impact total gaseous Hg (TGM) isotope values, highlighting the need to characterize atmospheric Hg isotopes over larger geographical areas to evaluate changes related to national and international Hg regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Tate
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sarah E Janssen
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ryan F Lepak
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Laura Flucke
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, USA
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7
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Wang B, Yang S, Li P, Qin C, Wang C, Ali MU, Yin R, Maurice L, Point D, Sonke JE, Zhang L, Feng X. Trace mercury migration and human exposure in typical mercury-emission areas by compound-specific stable isotope analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 174:107891. [PMID: 36963155 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107891] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions have increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution, resulting in severe health impacts to humans. The consumptions of fish and rice were primary human methylmercury (MeHg) exposure pathways in Asia. However, the lifecycle from anthropogenic Hg emissions to human MeHg exposure is not fully understood. In this study, a recently developed approach, termed MeHg Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA), was employed to track lifecycle of Hg in four typical Hg-emission areas. Distinct Δ199Hg of MeHg and inorganic Hg (IHg) were observed among rice, fish and hair. The Δ199Hg of MeHg averaged at 0.07 ± 0.15 ‰, 0.80 ± 0.55 ‰ and 0.43 ± 0.29 ‰ in rice, fish and hair, respectively, while those of IHg averaged at - 0.08 ± 0.24 ‰, 0.85 ± 0.43 ‰ and - 0.28 ± 0.68 ‰. In paddy ecosystem, Δ199Hg of MeHg in rice showed slightly positive shifts (∼0.2 ‰) from those of IHg, and comparable Δ199Hg of IHg between rice grain and raw/processed materials (coal, Hg ore, gold ore and sphalerite) were observed. Simultaneously, it was proved that IHg in fish muscle was partially derived from in vivo demethylation of MeHg. By a binary model, we estimated the relative contributions of rice consumption to human MeHg exposure to be 84 ± 14 %, 58 ± 26 %, 52 ± 20 % and 34 ± 15 % on average in Hg mining area, gold mining area, zinc smelting area and coal-fired power plant area, respectively, and positive shifts of δ202HgMeHg from fish/rice to human hair occurred during human metabolic processes. Therefore, the CSIA approach can be an effective tool for tracking Hg biogeochemical cycle and human exposure, from which new scientific knowledge can be generated to support Hg pollution control policies and to protect human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China; Health Management Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550009, China
| | - Shaochen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China.
| | - Chongyang Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Muhammad Ubaid Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Laurence Maurice
- Observatory Midi-Pyrénées, Geosciences Environment Toulouse Laboratory, Research Institute for the Development (IRD), University of Toulouse and CNRS, 31400, Toulouse, France
| | - David Point
- Observatory Midi-Pyrénées, Geosciences Environment Toulouse Laboratory, Research Institute for the Development (IRD), University of Toulouse and CNRS, 31400, Toulouse, France
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Observatory Midi-Pyrénées, Geosciences Environment Toulouse Laboratory, Research Institute for the Development (IRD), University of Toulouse and CNRS, 31400, Toulouse, France
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
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8
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Han D, Wu Q, Wen M, Tang Y, Li G, Ren Y, Cui Y, Li Z, Shi J, Zhang Q, Yin X, Wang S. Isotopic Fractionation Characteristics of Speciated Mercury from Local Biomass Combustion in the Tibetan Plateau. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4775-4783. [PMID: 36926863 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As the Third Pole of the world, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is sensitive to anthropogenic influences. Biomass combustion is one of the most important anthropogenic sources of mercury (Hg) emissions in the TP. However, due to the lack of knowledge about Hg emission characteristics and activity levels in the plateau, atmospheric Hg emissions from biomass combustion in the TP are under large uncertainties. Here, based on pilot-scale experiments, we found that particle-bound mercury (PBM; mean of 83.1-87.7 ng/m3) occupied 17.93-49.31% of the total emitted Hg and the PBM δ202Hg values (average -1.65‰ to -0.77‰) were significantly higher than those of the corresponding feeding biomass. The Δ200Hg values of total gaseous mercury and PBM were more negative (-0.08‰ to -0.05‰) than other anthropogenic emissions, providing unique isotopic fingerprints for this sector. Together with the investigated local activity levels, Hg emissions from biomass combustion reached 402 ± 74 kg/a, which were dozens of times higher than previous estimates. The emissions were characterized by conspicuous spatial heterogeneity, concentrated in the northern and central TP. Specialized Hg emissions and the Hg isotope fingerprint of local biomass combustion can aid in evaluating the influence of this sector on the fragile ecosystems of the TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deming Han
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310000 Hangzhou China
| | - Qingru Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Minneng Wen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Yi Tang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Guoliang Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Yujia Ren
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Yuying Cui
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Zhijian Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310000 Hangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China
| | - Qianggong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Xiufeng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, 100084 Beijing, China
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9
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Qin X, Dong X, Tao Z, Wei R, Zhang H, Guo Q. Tracing the transboundary transport of atmospheric Particulate Bound Mercury driven by the East Asian monsoon. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 446:130678. [PMID: 36608578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Taking Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) with severe atmospheric mercury (Hg) and PM2.5 pollution as a typical region, this study clarified the characteristics and transboundary transport of atmospheric Particulate Bound Mercury (PBM2.5) affected by the East Asian monsoon. Five sampling sites were conducted in rural, suburban, urban, industrial, and coastal areas of BTH from northwest to southeast along the East Asian monsoon direction. PBM2.5 showed increasing concentrations from northwest to southeast and negative δ202Hg values, indicating significant contributions from anthropogenic sources. However, the mean Δ199Hg values of PBM2.5 at the five sites were significantly positive, probably triggered by the photoreduction of Hg(II) during long-range transport driven by the East Asian monsoon. Apart from local anthropogenic emissions as the primary sources, the transboundary transport of PBM2.5, driven by west and northwest air masses originating in Central Asia and Russia, contributed significantly to the PBM2.5 pollution of BTH. Moreover, these air masses reaching BTH would carry elevated PBM2.5 concentrations further transported to the ocean by the East Asian monsoon. In contrast, the southeast air masses transported from the ocean by the East Asian monsoon in summer diluted inland PBM2.5 pollution. This study provides insight into the atmospheric Hg circulation affected by the East Asian monsoon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuechao Qin
- Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Department of Health, Ethics and Society, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6229 HA, the Netherlands
| | - Xinyuan Dong
- Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhenghua Tao
- Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rongfei Wei
- Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Qingjun Guo
- Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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10
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Yan J, Li R, Ali MU, Wang C, Wang B, Jin X, Shao M, Li P, Zhang L, Feng X. Mercury migration to surface water from remediated mine waste and impacts of rainfall in a karst area - Evidence from Hg isotopes. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 230:119592. [PMID: 36638731 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mine waste (MW) in historical mercury (Hg) mining areas continuously emits Hg into local environment, including aquatic ecosystems. Tracing Hg migration process from MW and determining its relative contribution to Hg pollution is critical for understanding the environmental impact of MW remediation. In this study, we combined data of Hg concentration, speciation, and isotope to address this issue in the Wanshan Hg mining area in southwest China. We found that rainfall can elevate Hg concentrations in river water and control the partitioning and transport of Hg in karst fissure zones through changing the hydrological conditions. A consistently large offset of δ202Hg (1.24‰) was observed between dissolved Hg (DHg) and particulate Hg (PHg) in surface water during the low-flow period (LFP), which may have been related to the relatively stable hydrologic conditions and unique geological background (karst fissure zones) of the karst region (KR). Results from the ternary Hg isotopic mixing model showed that, despite an order of magnitude reduction in Hg concentration and flux in river water after remediation, the remediated MW is still a significant source of Hg pollution to local aquatic ecosystems, accounting for 49.3 ± 11.9% and 37.8 ± 11.8% of river DHg in high flow period (HFP) and LFP, respectively. This study provides new insights into Hg migration and transportation in aquatic ecosystem and pollution source apportionment in Hg polluted area, which can be used for making polices for future remediation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruolan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Muhammad Ubaid Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Xingang Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Mingyu Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China.
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
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11
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Song Z, Sun R, Zhang Y. Modeling mercury isotopic fractionation in the atmosphere. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 307:119588. [PMID: 35688392 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119588] [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: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) stable isotope analysis has become a powerful tool to identify Hg sources and to understand its biogeochemical processes. However, it is challenging to link the observed Hg isotope fractionation to its global cycling. Here, we integrate source Hg isotope signatures and process-based Hg isotope fractionation into a three-dimensional isotope model based on the GEOS-Chem model platform. Our simulated isotope compositions of total gaseous Hg (TGM) are broadly comparable with available observations across global regions. The isotope compositions of global TGM, potentially distinguishable over different regions, are caused by the atmospheric mixture of anthropogenic, natural, and re-emitted Hg sources, superimposed with competing processes, notably gaseous Hg(0) dry deposition and Hg redox transformations. We find that Hg(0) dry deposition has a great impact on the isotope compositions of global TGM and drives the seasonal variation of δ202Hg in forest-covered regions. The atmospheric photo-reduction of Hg(Ⅱ) dominates over Hg(0) oxidation in driving the global Δ199Hg (and Δ201Hg) distribution patterns in TGM. We suggest that the magnitude of isotope fractionation associated with atmospheric aqueous-phase Hg(Ⅱ) reduction is likely close to aquatic Hg(Ⅱ) reduction. Our model provides a vital tool for coupling the global atmospheric Hg cycle and its isotope fractionation at various scales and advances our understanding of atmospheric Hg transfer and transformation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengcheng Song
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanxu Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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12
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Zhang K, Zheng W, Sun R, He S, Shuai W, Fan X, Yuan S, Fu P, Deng J, Li X, Wang S, Chen J. Stable Isotopes Reveal Photoreduction of Particle-Bound Mercury Driven by Water-Soluble Organic Carbon during Severe Haze. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:10619-10628. [PMID: 35853134 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Haze with high loading of particles may result in significant enrichment of particle-bound Hg (PBM), potentially impacting the atmospheric Hg transformation and transport. However, the dynamics of Hg transformation and the relative environmental effect during severe haze episodes remain unclear. Here, we report Hg isotopic compositions of atmospheric particles (PM2.5, PM10, and TSP) collected during a severe haze episode in Tianjin, China, to investigate the transformation and fate of Hg during haze events. All severe haze samples display significantly higher Δ199Hg (up to 1.50‰) than global urban PBM, which cannot be explained by primary anthropogenic emissions. The high Δ199Hg is likely caused by photoreduction of PBM promoted by water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) during the particle accumulation period, as demonstrated by the positive correlations of Δ199Hg with WSOC and relative humidity and confirmed by our laboratory-controlled photoreduction experiment. The results show that, on average, 21% of PBM are likely photoreduced and re-emitted back to the atmosphere as Hg(0), potentially requiring revision of atmospheric Hg budgeting and modeling. This study highlights the release of large portions of PBM back to the gas phase through photoreduction, which needs to be taken into account while evaluating the atmospheric Hg cycle and the relative ecological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wang Zheng
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Sheng He
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wangcai Shuai
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiongfei Fan
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shengliu Yuan
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Chemistry Department, Trent University, Ontario K9J7B8, Canada
| | - Pingqing Fu
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Junjun Deng
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiubin Chen
- School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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13
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Sun R, Hintelmann H, Wiklund JA, Evans MS, Muir D, Kirk JL. Mercury Isotope Variations in Lake Sediment Cores in Response to Direct Mercury Emissions from Non-Ferrous Metal Smelters and Legacy Mercury Remobilization. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:8266-8277. [PMID: 35616385 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nature archives record atmospheric mercury (Hg) depositions from directly emitted Hg and re-emitted legacy Hg. Tracing the legacy versus newly deposited Hg is still, however, challenging. Here, we measured Hg isotope compositions in three dated sediment cores at different distances from the Flin Flon smelter, the largest Canadian Hg sources to the atmosphere during the 1930s-2000s. During the smelter's operative period, Hg isotope compositions showed limited variations in the near-field lake (<10 km) sediments but were rather variable in middle- (20-75 km) and far-field lake (∼800 km) sediments. Only the post-2000 sediments in middle/far-field lakes showed significantly negative Hg isotope shifts, while sediments from the 1970s-1990s had Hg isotope values resembling those of near-field lake post-1930 sediments. We suggest that the smelter's peak Hg emissions during the 1970s-1990s, which coincided with the deployment of a super stack in the mid-1970s, largely increased the long-range dispersion of smelter plumes. For the top post-2000 sediments, the fugitive dust from ore tailings and terrestrial legacy Hg re-emissions dominated Hg deposition in near-field lakes and middle/far-field lakes, respectively. Our study demonstrates that legacy Hg remobilization now exports substantial amounts of Hg to ecosystems, highlighting the need for aggressive remediation measures of Hg-contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Water Quality Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Holger Hintelmann
- Water Quality Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Johan A Wiklund
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Marlene S Evans
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Derek Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Jane L Kirk
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
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14
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Irei S. Stable Isotope Ratios of Mercury in Commercially Available Thermometers and Fluorescent Tubes. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:9291-9302. [PMID: 35350359 PMCID: PMC8945125 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c06060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Five stable isotope ratios of mercury (199Hg/198Hg, 200Hg/198Hg, 201Hg/198Hg, 202Hg/198Hg, and 204Hg/198Hg) in commercially available thermometers and fluorescent tubes were analyzed to characterize their potential anthropogenic emission source to landfills, manufacturing factories, and our daily lives. The results for the liquid metal mercury yielded from the thermometers showed similar mass-independent fractionation values to those in the literature. The analysis of fluorescent tubes resulted in that more than 96% of mercury in the fluorescent tubes was found in the adsorbed state, and up to 3.5% of mercury was in the gas-phase. Unique mass-independent isotope fractionation values were found in the gaseous and adsorbed mercury in the fluorescent tubes. This fractionation is distinct from other emission sources and systematic; therefore, it can potentially be used to fingerprint mercury in fluorescent tubes in environmental samples.
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15
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Schneider L, Rose NL, Myllyvirta L, Haberle S, Lintern A, Yuan J, Sinclair D, Holley C, Zawadzki A, Sun R. Mercury atmospheric emission, deposition and isotopic fingerprinting from major coal-fired power plants in Australia: Insights from palaeo-environmental analysis from sediment cores. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 287:117596. [PMID: 34426387 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117596] [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: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite Australia's high reliance on coal for electricity generation, no study has addressed the extent to which mercury (Hg) deposition has increased since the commissioning of coal-fired power plants. We present stratigraphic data from lake sediments in the Hunter Valley (New South Wales) and Latrobe Valley (Victoria), where a significant proportion of Australia's electricity is generated via coal combustion. Mercury deposition in lake sediments increased in the 1970s with the commissioning of coal-fired power plants, by a factor of 2.9-times in sediments of Lake Glenbawn (Hunter Valley) and 14-times in Traralgon Reservoir (Latrobe Valley). Sediments deposited after the commissioning of power plants have distinct Hg isotope compositions, similar to those of combusted coals. Mercury emission, estimated using an atmospheric model (CALPUFF), was higher in the Latrobe Valley than in the Hunter Valley. This is a result of higher Hg concentrations in lignite coal, lax regulation and older pollution-control technologies adopted by coal-fired power plants in the Latrobe Valley. Near-source deposition of Hg in Australia is significantly higher than North America and Europe, where better emission controls (e.g. wet flue gas desulfurization) have been in effect for decades. The challenge for Australia in years to come will be to ratify the Minamata Convention and develop better regulation policies to reduce Hg emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Schneider
- School of Culture, History and Language. The Australian National University, Coombs Bld. 9, Fellows Rd, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Neil L Rose
- Environmental Change Research Centre, Dept of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lauri Myllyvirta
- Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Simon Haberle
- School of Culture, History and Language. The Australian National University, Coombs Bld. 9, Fellows Rd, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Anna Lintern
- Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 3800, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jingjing Yuan
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Darren Sinclair
- Centre for Change Governance, Institute of Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cameron Holley
- School of Law, Society and Criminology, Faculty of Law & Justice, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Atun Zawadzki
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China.
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16
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Huang S, Zhao Y, Lv S, Wang W, Wang W, Zhang Y, Huo Y, Sun X, Chen Y. Distribution of mercury isotope signatures in Yundang Lagoon, Xiamen, China, after long-term interventions. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 272:129716. [PMID: 33601205 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129716] [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: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Isotope signatures of mercury (Hg) were determined for Hg fractions in seawater, sediments, porewaters, core sediments and fish from the Yundang Lagoon, Xiamen, China. Sequential extraction was used to extract Hg fractions in sediments and the purge-trap method was used to preconcentrate Hg in seawater. A large variation in mass dependent fractionation (δ202Hg: -2.50‰ to -0.36‰) was observed in the lagoon. Seawater and fish samples showed positive mass-independent fractionation (Δ199Hg: -0.06‰-0.45‰), while most of sediment and porewater samples displayed insignificant mass-independent fractionation (Δ199Hg: -0.10‰-0.07‰). Ancillary parameters (total organic carbon, sulfide, pH, Eh, water content and grain size) were also measured in the sediments to investigate correlations with Hg isotopes. Three sources (domestic sewage, sediments and atmospheric deposition) were identified as the main sources of Hg in the lagoon seawater. Photochemical reaction was the main process causing isotope fractionation in seawater. Through Hg partitioning and deposition, light isotopes were enriched from dissolved Hg to particulate Hg, then to sediments, and then to porewaters. Finally, Hg isotope signatures were used to identify the Hg sources and fractionation processes in core sediments from different depths. Our results demonstrate that Hg isotopes are powerful tools for tracing Hg sources and arriving at a better understanding of Hg biogeochemical cycling in the lagoon after long-term interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyuan Huang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Yuhan Zhao
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Supeng Lv
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Weiguo Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Weili Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yuanbiao Zhang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
| | - Yunlong Huo
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xiuwu Sun
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yaojin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
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17
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Wang L, Jin Y, Weiss DJ, Schleicher NJ, Wilcke W, Wu L, Guo Q, Chen J, O'Connor D, Hou D. Possible application of stable isotope compositions for the identification of metal sources in soil. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 407:124812. [PMID: 33340973 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Metals in soil are potentially harmful to humans and ecosystems. Stable isotope measurement may provide "fingerprint" information on the sources of metals. In light of the rapid progress in this emerging field, we present a state-of-the-art overview of how useful stable isotopes are in soil metal source identification. Distinct isotope signals in different sources are the key prerequisites for source apportionment. In this context, Zn and Cd isotopes are particularly helpful for the identification of combustion-related industrial sources, since high-temperature evaporation-condensation would largely fractionate the isotopes of both elements. The mass-independent fractionation of Hg isotopes during photochemical reactions allows for the identification of atmospheric sources. However, compared with traditionally used Sr and Pb isotopes for source tracking whose variations are due to the radiogenic processes, the biogeochemical low-temperature fractionation of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg and Tl isotopes renders much uncertainty, since large intra-source variations may overlap the distinct signatures of inter-source variations (i.e., blur the source signals). Stable isotope signatures of non-metallic elements can also aid in source identification in an indirect way. In fact, the soils are often contaminated with different elements. In this case, a combination of stable isotope analysis with mineralogical or statistical approaches would provide more accurate results. Furthermore, isotope-based source identification will also be helpful for comprehending the temporal changes of metal accumulation in soil systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuwei Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuanliang Jin
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dominik J Weiss
- Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, New York, USA
| | - Nina J Schleicher
- Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Wilcke
- Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany
| | - Longhua Wu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Qingjun Guo
- Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiubin Chen
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - David O'Connor
- School of Real Estate and Land Management, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, GL7 1RS, United Kingdom
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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18
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Fu B, Sun R, Yao H, Hower JC, Yuan J, Luo G, Hu H, Mardon SM, Tang Q. Mercury stable isotope fractionation during gaseous elemental mercury adsorption onto coal fly ash particles: Experimental and field observations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 405:124280. [PMID: 33268202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) stable isotopes have a great potential to track coal combustion Hg emissions, but mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) during Hg adsorption onto fly ash particles could significantly alter isotope signatures of emitted Hg species. The detailed processes causing this MDF, however, are not well understood. Here, we simulated how isotopes fractionate during gaseous Hg0 adsorption onto fly ash at different times and temperatures. Kinetic MDF that preferably transfers light Hg isotopes to fly ash dominated Hg0 adsorption processes. The magnitude of MDF during Hg0 adsorption was invariable in the time-series experiment but increased significantly with increasing temperature in the temperature-series experiment. The external mass transfer and chemisorption are suggested to be the controlling processes for isotopic fractionation. Relative to diffusion-driven Hg0 adsorption, chemisorption is suggested to be a more important Hg0 adsorption step causing MDF, especially at high temperatures. The chemisorption involves Hg redox change from Hg0 to HgII and is likely enhanced with increasing temperature (50-180 °C). The proposed kinetic MDF model reveals that MDF in modern coal-fired power plants is likely driven by temperature-induced redox processes during Hg0 adsorption, and has great implications for developing MDF models in coal-fired boilers and tracing coal combustion Hg emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Hong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - James C Hower
- University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research, 2540 Research Park Drive, Lexington 40511, KY, United States; University of Kentucky, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Lexington 40506, KY, United States
| | - Jingjing Yuan
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Guangqian Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hongyun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Sarah M Mardon
- Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506, KY, United States
| | - Quan Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
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19
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Li X, Chen J, Tang L, Wu T, Fu C, Li Z, Sun G, Zhao H, Zhang L, Li Q, Feng X. Mercury isotope signatures of a pre-calciner cement plant in Southwest China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 401:123384. [PMID: 32763687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing the composition of mercury (Hg) isotopes in the atmospheric emissions of cement plants is critical to understand the global circulation of Hg because large quantities of Hg are released from this source annually. A pre-calciner cement plant in Guizhou Province in Southwest China was selected to investigate the mass dependent fractionation (MDF) and mass independent fractionation (MIF) of Hg in the entire production process and the speciated Hg isotope composition in stack gas. Significant MDF and insignificant MIF were observed in this cement plant. Different raw/correction materials have δ202Hg signals ranging from -1.68 to -2.19‰. Raw meal is featured with lighter Hg (δ202Hg = -2.83 ± 0.18‰) as results of Hg circulation and accumulation during the clinker production. Cement products possess negative δ202Hg values (-1.98 ± 0.02‰) due to the input of light δ202Hg isotopes through additives/retarder limestone, and fly ash and gypsum from coal-fired power plant (CFPPs). Speciated Hg isotopes in the stack gas of the kiln tail and kiln head show no significant differences, and δ202Hg and Δ199Hg in the discharged flue gas averaged at -2.03 ± 0. 31‰ and -0.03 ± 0.07‰, respectively, which has negative δ202Hg characteristics with other anthropogenic sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ji Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Guizhou Provincial Laboratory for Mountainous Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Li Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Tingting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Environment and Geohazard Prevention, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550003, China
| | - Chengcheng Fu
- Guizhou Environmental Monitoring Center, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Zhonggen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; College of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi, 563006, China.
| | - Guangyi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Huifang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, M3H5T4, Canada
| | - Qiuhua Li
- Guizhou Provincial Laboratory for Mountainous Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
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20
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Janssen SE, Patnode KA, Pluta BR, Krabbenhoft DP. Insights into Mercury Source Identification and Bioaccumulation Using Stable Isotope Approaches in the Hannibal Pool of the Ohio River, USA. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:233-242. [PMID: 32633881 PMCID: PMC8043245 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury contamination in river systems due to historic and current Hg releases is a persistent concern for both wildlife and human health. In larger rivers, like the Ohio River, USA, it is difficult to directly link Hg discharges to bioaccumulation due to the existence of multiple industrial Hg sources as well as the varied dietary and migratory habits of biota. To better understand how industrial effluent influences the cycling and bioaccumulation of Hg within the Ohio River, Hg stable isotope analysis was applied to various nonbiological and biological media. High Hg concentrations in suspended particulate matter suggest this vector was the largest contributor of Hg to the water column, and distinct Hg source signatures were observed in effluent particulates from different industrial processes, such as chlor-alkali activity (δ202 Hg = -0.52‰) and coal power plant discharge (δ202 Hg = -1.39‰). Despite this distinction, average sediments (δ202 Hg = -1.00 ± 0.23‰) showed intermediate isotopic signatures that suggest the accumulation of a mixed Hg source driven by multiple industrial discharges. Biota in the system were shown to have a conserved range of δ202 Hg and estimation approaches related these signatures back to particulate matter within Hannibal Pool. Mussels were found to conserve Hg isotopes signatures independently of food web drivers and served as ideal water column indicators of bioaccumulated Hg sources. This study highlights the complexity of Hg cycling within an industrialized river and shows that an isotope tracer approach can provide insight to water column sources of Hg. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:233-242. Published 2020. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Janssen
- United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Middleton, Wisconsin
| | | | - Bruce R Pluta
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Hazardous Site Cleanup Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Middleton, Wisconsin
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21
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Yuan J, Sun R, Wang R, Fu B, Meng M, Zheng W, Chen J. Denitrification devices in urban boilers change mercury isotope fractionation signatures of coal combustion products. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115753. [PMID: 33045583 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The installation rate of denitrification devices is accelerating in Chinese urban boilers. Previous studies on pulverized coal-fired boilers without denitrification devices showed that combustion products containing mainly oxidized mercury (Hg) preferably enriched lighter Hg isotopes than feed coals. However, the magnitude of this enrichment becomes less pronounced if denitrification devices are installed. The underlying Hg isotope fractionation mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, three types of urban boilers (two pulverized coal-fired boilers, one circulating fluidized bed boiler and one municipal waste incinerator boiler) all installed with denitrification devices were measured for Hg isotope compositions of their feed fuels and corresponding combustion products. We observed little mass independent fractionation but very significant mass dependent fractionation (MDF) between feed fuels and combustion products. The fly ash and desulfurization products both enriched heavier Hg isotopes than feed coals in three coal-fired boilers, and the enrichment of heavy Hg isotopes increased with sequential removal of combustion products in all boilers. Different from previously suggested kinetic MDF for gaseous Hg0(g)→HgII(g) and gaseous HgII(g)→particulate HgII(p) in coal combustion flue gases, we propose an equilibrium MDF for Hg0(g)↔HgII(g) followed by a kinetic MDF for HgII(g)→HgII(p). This equilibrium MDF most likely occurs during Hg0(g) oxidation in denitrification devices, which enriches heavy Hg isotopes in oxidized products (HgII(g) and HgII(p)) that are then sequestrated in fly ash and desulfurization products. The paradigm shift of MDF in boilers with denitrification devices was further verified by parallel Hg isotope measurement in urban atmosphere particulates. Our study clearly demonstrates that modern coal-fired boilers with denitrification devices have a quite different MDF compared to traditional boilers without denitrification devices. This has important implications for estimating isotope signatures of urban boiler Hg emissions, and for isotope tracing of anthropogenic Hg emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Yuan
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - Ruwei Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Biao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Mei Meng
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Wang Zheng
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jiubin Chen
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
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22
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Cao F, Meng M, Shan B, Sun R. Source apportionment of mercury in surface soils near the Wuda coal fire area in Inner Mongolia, China. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:128348. [PMID: 33297273 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, has been suffering from serious coal fire disaster for more than half a century. In the past decade, the central and local governments have carried out many fire-fighting projects to put out the coal fires, but coal fires still sporadically occur in the coalfield. Previous studies showed that coal fires could release large amounts of mercury (Hg) into the environment. Meanwhile, the rapid industrial development in recent years in Wuda area has also discharged a certain amount of Hg. Identification and quantification of the Hg emitted from coal fires and industrial sources is critical to formulate appropriate environmental policies. This study determined Hg isotope compositions in different types of coals from Wuda coal fire area and surface soils with different distances to the coal fire area, with an aim of anchoring the potential Hg sources in soils. The results showed that the coals had moderately negative δ202Hg (-2.02∼-1.21‰) and slightly negative Δ199Hg (-0.14-0.00‰), while the soils generally had more positive δ202Hg (-1.97∼-0.26‰) and Δ199Hg (-0.07-0.04‰) with distinct isotope ranges among different sampling sites. According to characteristic Hg isotope compositions of different sources, we concluded that the Hg in Wuda soils mainly sourced from cement plants and coal fires, and coal fires were still an important Hg contamination source in Wuda area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Cao
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Mei Meng
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - Bing Shan
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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23
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Li C, Sun J, Shi J, Liang H, Cao Q, Li Z, Gao Y. Mercury sources in a subterranean spontaneous combustion area. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 201:110863. [PMID: 32544749 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic, persistent, and mobile contaminant. Coal spontaneous combustion are widely distributed in the world and releases a great deal of Hg. Identifying the burning coal seam is crucial for quickly extinguishing a coalfield fire. Mercury isotopes can be effective for identifying burning coal seams and beneficial for combating coal spontaneous combustion. In this study, Hg isotopic ratios of coal, topsoil, dustfall, sand, coal fire sponges (CFS), and n-topsoil (topsoil near the CFS) from coal fire area No. 9 in the Wuda coalfield were determined using multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS). Analysis of the correlation coefficients between the δ202Hg and Hg concentrations and the low-temperature ashes indicate that the higher mineral concentration in coal seam No. 9 not only increases the Hg concentration but also leads to more positive δ202Hg values compared to those for coal seam No. 10. By analyzing the Hg isotope characterizations in coal seam No. 9 and No. 10, we determined that Hg isotope characterizations can be useful for discriminating different coal seam Hg values in a coalfield. Significant mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) occur in the coal burning. The fractionation effect of burning and absorption process can play a key role in the δ202Hg more negative of ground surface samples. If Hg isotopes is added, the effect of coal-fire monitoring may be better. In addition, these finding could be used to better understand the transport and cycling of Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhui Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Jiacong Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiyan Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Handong Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Qingyi Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zhiwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yu Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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24
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Kurz AY, Blum JD, Gratz LE, Jaffe DA. Contrasting Controls on the Diel Isotopic Variation of Hg 0 at Two High Elevation Sites in the Western United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:10502-10513. [PMID: 32786593 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is a significant global reservoir for mercury (Hg) and its isotopic characterization is important to understand sources, distribution, and deposition of Hg to the Earth's surface. To better understand Hg isotope variability in the remote background atmosphere, we collected continuous 12-h Hg0 samples for 1 week from two high elevation sites, Camp Davis, Wyoming (valley), and Mount Bachelor, Oregon (mountaintop). The samples collected at Camp Davis displayed strong diel variation in δ202Hg values of Hg0, but not in Δ199Hg or Δ200Hg values. We attribute this pattern to nightly atmospheric inversions trapping Hg in the valley and the subsequent nighttime uptake of Hg by vegetation, which depletes Hg from the atmosphere. At Mount Bachelor, the samples displayed diel variation in both δ202Hg and Δ199Hg, but not Δ200Hg. We attribute this pattern to differences in the vertical distribution of Hg in the atmosphere as Mount Bachelor received free tropospheric air masses on certain nights during the sampling period. Near the end of the sampling period at Mount Bachelor, the observed diel pattern dissipated due to the influence of a nearby forest fire. The processes governing the Hg isotopic fractionation differ across sites depending on mixing, topography, and vegetation cover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Y Kurz
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 1100 N University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Joel D Blum
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 1100 N University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Lynne E Gratz
- Environmental Studies Program, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, United States
| | - Daniel A Jaffe
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, Washington 98011, United States
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25
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Szponar N, McLagan DS, Kaplan RJ, Mitchell CPJ, Wania F, Steffen A, Stupple GW, Monaci F, Bergquist BA. Isotopic Characterization of Atmospheric Gaseous Elemental Mercury by Passive Air Sampling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:10533-10543. [PMID: 32786342 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02251] [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
Tracing emission sources and transformations of atmospheric mercury with Hg stable isotopes depends on the ability to collect amounts sufficient for reliable quantification. Commonly employed active sampling methods require power and long pumping times, which limits the ability to deploy in remote locations and at high spatial resolution and can lead to compromised traps. In order to overcome these limitations, we conducted field and laboratory experiments to assess the preservation of isotopic composition during sampling of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) with a passive air sampler (PAS) that uses a sulfur-impregnated carbon sorbent and a diffusive barrier. Whereas no mass independent fractionation (MIF) was observed during sampling, the mass dependent fractionation (MDF, δ202Hg) of GEM taken up by the PAS was lower than that of actively pumped samples by 1.14 ± 0.24‰ (2SD). Because the MDF offset was consistent across field studies and laboratory experiments conducted at 5, 20, and 30 °C, the PAS can be used for reliable isotopic characterization of GEM (±0.3‰ for MDF, ±0.05‰ for MIF, 2SD). The MDF offset occurred more during the sorption of GEM rather than during diffusion. PAS field deployments confirm the ability to record differences in the isotopic composition of GEM (i) with distance from point sources and (ii) sampled at different background locations globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Szponar
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, M5S 2B1 Toronto, Canada
| | - David S McLagan
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, M1C 1A4 Toronto, Canada
| | - Robert J Kaplan
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, M5S 2B1 Toronto, Canada
| | - Carl P J Mitchell
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, M1C 1A4 Toronto, Canada
| | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, M1C 1A4 Toronto, Canada
| | - Alexandra Steffen
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, M3H 5T4 Toronto, Canada
| | - Geoff W Stupple
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, M3H 5T4 Toronto, Canada
| | - Fabrizio Monaci
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Bridget A Bergquist
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, M5S 2B1 Toronto, Canada
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26
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Yamakawa A, Bérail S, Amouroux D, Tessier E, Barre J, Sano T, Nagano K, Kanwal S, Yoshinaga J, Donard OFX. Hg isotopic composition and total Hg mass fraction in NIES Certified Reference Material No. 28 Urban Aerosols. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:4483-4493. [PMID: 32424796 PMCID: PMC7329778 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02691-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An interlaboratory study on the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) certified reference material (CRM) No. 28 Urban Aerosols, collected on the filters of a central ventilating system in a building in Beijing city center, was performed to obtain informative values of Hg isotopic composition and total Hg (THg) mass fraction. The THg mass fraction was determined by four organizations using atomic absorption spectrometry; it resulted in the mean value of 1.19 ± 0.12 mg/kg (2SD, n = 24). The Hg isotopic composition of the CRM was measured and intercompared at two different institutions by cold vapor generation system coupled to multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Subsequently, a conventional dissolution method that uses a mixture of HNO3/HCl/H2O2 in Hotblock® and two different dissolution methods that use a mixture of HNO3/HCl with a microwave and a digestion bomb were applied. The Hg isotopic compositions were δ202Hg = − 1.26 ± 0.17‰, Δ199Hg = − 0.23 ± 0.06‰, Δ200Hg = 0.01 ± 0.07‰, and Δ201Hg = − 0.22 ± 0.09‰ (2SD, n = 18) for the conventional method, which agree well with those obtained using microwave and bomb digestion. Our results indicate that, for the quality control of particulate matter analyses, this CRM is appropriate for use in environmental and geochemical studies. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Akane Yamakawa
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Analysis, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Sylvain Bérail
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physicochimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, 64053, Pau Cedex 09, France
| | - David Amouroux
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physicochimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, 64053, Pau Cedex 09, France
| | - Emmanuel Tessier
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physicochimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, 64053, Pau Cedex 09, France
| | - Julien Barre
- Advanced Isotopic Analysis, Technopole Hélioparc Pau Pyrénées, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, 64053, Pau Cedex 09, France
| | - Tomoharu Sano
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Analysis, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Kimiyo Nagano
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Analysis, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Sadia Kanwal
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8563, Japan
| | - Jun Yoshinaga
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Analysis, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Oura, Gunma, 394-0193, Japan
| | - Olivier F X Donard
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physicochimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, 64053, Pau Cedex 09, France
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27
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Huang J, Kang S, Yin R, Lin M, Guo J, Ram K, Li C, Sharma C, Tripathee L, Sun S, Wang F. Decoupling Natural and Anthropogenic Mercury and Lead Transport from South Asia to the Himalayas. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:5429-5436. [PMID: 32242420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) accumulation since the Industrial Revolution has been generally observed to increase concurrently in lake sedimentary records around the world. Located downwind during the monsoon season from the rapidly developing South Asia, the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau are expected to receive direct anthropogenic Hg and Pb loadings, yet the source, pathway, and effects of such transport remain poorly known due to logistic challenges in accessing this region. When studying the sediment record from Lake Gokyo (4750 m above sea level (a.s.l.)) in the Himalayas, we find remarkably different Hg and Pb accumulation trends over the past 260 years. Although Hg accumulation has continued to increase since the Industrial Revolution, Pb accumulation peaked during that time and has been decreasing since then. Stable isotope analysis reveals that the decoupling trends between these two elements are due to different sources and pathways of Hg and Pb in the region. Both δ202Hg and Δ199Hg have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution, suggesting that anthropogenic Hg emissions from South Asia have been continuously increasing and that the Indian monsoon-driven wet deposition of atmospheric Hg is the dominant pathway for Hg accumulation in the sediments. In contrast, analysis of 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb ratios suggests that Pb accumulation in the sediments originates primarily from natural sources and that the decreasing trend of Pb accumulation is most likely due to a weakening input of atmospheric mineral dust by the westerlies. These decoupling trends highlight the ongoing issue of transboundary Hg transport to the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau that are source waters for major freshwater systems in Asia and calls for regional and international collaborations on Hg emission controls in South Asia.
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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
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Mang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kirpa Ram
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Chaoliu Li
- 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, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chhatra Sharma
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 6133, Nepal
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shiwei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Science and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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28
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Shahid M, Khalid S, Bibi I, Bundschuh J, Khan Niazi N, Dumat C. A critical review of mercury speciation, bioavailability, toxicity and detoxification in soil-plant environment: Ecotoxicology and health risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:134749. [PMID: 32000322 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination by a non-essential and non-beneficial, although potentially toxic mercury (Hg), is becoming a great threat to the living organisms at a global scale. Owing to its various uses in numerous industrial processes, high amount of Hg is released into different environmental compartments. Environmental Hg contamination can result in food chain contamination, especially due to its accumulation in edible plant parts. Consumption of Hg-rich food is a key source of Hg exposure to humans. Since Hg does not possess any identified biological role and has genotoxic and carcinogenic potential, it is critical to monitor its biogeochemical behavior in the soil-plant system and its influence in terms of possible food chain contamination and human exposure. This review traces a plausible link among Hg levels, its chemical speciation and phytoavailability in soil, accumulation in plants, phytotoxicity and detoxification of Hg inside the plant. The role of different enzymatic (peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (glutathione, phytochelatins, proline and ascorbic acid) antioxidants has also been elucidated with respect to enhanced generation of reactive radicles and resulting oxidative stress. The review also outlines Hg build-up in edible plant tissues and associated health risks. The biogeochemical role of Hg in the soil-plant system and associated health risks have been described with well summarized and up-to-date data in 12 tables and 4 figures. We believe that this comprehensive review article and meta-analysis of Hg data can be greatly valuable for scientists, researchers, policymakers and graduate-level students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan.
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan
| | - Irshad Bibi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Camille Dumat
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir (CERTOP), UMR5044, Université J. Jaurès - Toulouse II, 5 allée Machado A., 31058 Toulouse, cedex 9, France; Université de Toulouse, INP-ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Auzeville-Tolosane, France; Association Réseau-Agriville (http://reseau-agriville.com/), France
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Huang J, Kang S, Yin R, Guo J, Lepak R, Mika S, Tripathee L, Sun S. Mercury isotopes in frozen soils reveal transboundary atmospheric mercury deposition over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 256:113432. [PMID: 31662270 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The concentration and isotopic composition of mercury (Hg) were studied in frozen soils along a southwest-northeast transect over the Himalaya-Tibet. Soil total Hg (HgT) concentrations were significantly higher in the southern slopes (72 ± 54 ng g-1, 2SD, n = 21) than those in the northern slopes (43 ± 26 ng g-1, 2SD, n = 10) of Himalaya-Tibet. No significant relationship was observed between HgT concentrations and soil organic carbon (SOC), indicating that the HgT variation was not governed by SOC. Soil from the southern slopes showed significantly negative mean δ202Hg (-0.53 ± 0.50‰, 2SD, n = 21) relative to those from the northern slopes (-0.12 ± 0.40‰, 2SD, n = 10). The δ202Hg values of the southern slopes are more similar to South Asian anthropogenic Hg emissions. A significant correlation between 1/HgT and δ202Hg was observed in all the soil samples, further suggesting a mixing of Hg from South Asian anthropogenic emissions and natural geochemical background. Large ranges of Δ199Hg (-0.45 and 0.24‰) were observed in frozen soils. Most of soil samples displayed negative Δ199Hg values, implying they mainly received Hg from gaseous Hg(0) deposition. A few samples had slightly positive odd-MIF, indicating precipitation-sourced Hg was more prevalent than gaseous Hg(0) in certain areas. The spatial distribution patterns of HgT concentrations and Hg isotopes indicated that Himalaya-Tibet, even its northern part, may have been influenced by transboundary atmospheric Hg pollution from South Asia.
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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; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Ryan Lepak
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sillanpää Mika
- Laboratory of Green Chemistry, School of Engineering Science, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Mikkeli, FI-50130, Finland
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shiwei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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30
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Ge M, Liu G, Liu H, Yuan Z, Liu Y. The distributions, contamination status, and health risk assessments of mercury and arsenic in the soils from the Yellow River Delta of China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:35094-35106. [PMID: 31679141 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06435-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The surface soils were collected from four areas in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), including three functional areas in the natural reserve of the YRD (the core area, buffer area, and experimental area) and a neighboring area of the natural reserve. The total concentrations, speciations, contamination status, and health risk assessments of the mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in surface soils of the YRD were investigated. The average Hg concentration was about three times that of the background value, while As was just slightly higher than the background. Hg levels in the sites of experimental area were significantly higher than those in the core area and buffer area, which was consistent with the human activity intensities of the three functional areas. However, no significant differences of As levels were observed across different areas. According to the sequential extraction experiments, only less than 5% of Hg and As were associated with the exchangeable fraction, while over 80% of them were found in the residual fraction, indicating low mobility and bioavailability of both Hg and As. The soil contamination status assessments suggested a "good state," and the health risk assessments indicated a "low risk" of Hg and As in the soils of YRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Ge
- CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710075, Shaanxi, China
- University of Hong Kong Joint Advanced Research Centre, University of Science and Technology of China-City, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guijian Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710075, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Houqi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zijiao Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710075, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710075, Shaanxi, China
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Pogrzeba M, Rusinowski S, Krzyżak J, Szada-Borzyszkowska A, McCalmont JP, Zieleźnik-Rusinowska P, Słaboń N, Sas-Nowosielska A. Dactylis glomerata L. cultivation on mercury contaminated soil and its physiological response to granular sulphur aided phytostabilization. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113271. [PMID: 31550655 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Most mercury (Hg) deposition in the environment results from anthropogenic inputs, Chlor-Alkali Plants (CAPs) particularly had a significant Hg impact on the environment at a regional scale. Exposure to mercury compounds resulting in various toxic effects for living organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the capacity of granular sulphur (S) soil amendment and cultivation of Dactylis glomerata to decrease gaseous mercury emission to the atmosphere and mercury mobility in soils affected by CAP activity in the past. The effect of this approach on D. glomerata physiological status was also assessed (Hg concentration in biomass, chlorophyll a fluorescence, pigment contents and oxidative stress). Stabilization of mercury in soil and reduction of root and shoot concentration did not influence biomass production. Despite similar yields, photosynthetic efficiency was higher for plants grown in sulphur amended soil compared to unamended soil, particularly observed in phenomenological energy fluxes. Relative chlorophyll content was 30% lower for amended soil plants, however based on chlorophyll fluorescence data those were in high portion ineffective. Oxidative stress products and catalase activity did not differ significantly between experimental treatments. Sulphur amendment was a key factor for reduction of Hg mobility in soil (reduced by about 30%) while plant cover was significant for the reduction of Hg atmospheric emission (emissions were 2-times higher in sulphur amended soil without plant cover). Due to the very high concentration of Hg in soil (798.2 ± 7.3 mg kg-1), growth inhibition was consistent regardless of treatment, demonstrated in the overload Reactive Oxygen Species scavenging mechanism and similar biomass yields. This leads to the conclusion that Hg may have greater impact on Calvin-Benson cycle associated enzymes than on the light-dependent photosynthesis phase. Despite these limitations this approach may still decrease environmental risks by reducing Hg emission to the atmosphere and reducing groundwater contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pogrzeba
- Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha St., 40-844, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Szymon Rusinowski
- Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha St., 40-844, Katowice, Poland
| | - Jacek Krzyżak
- Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha St., 40-844, Katowice, Poland
| | | | - Jon Paul McCalmont
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Exeter University, United Kingdom
| | - Paulina Zieleźnik-Rusinowska
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, 28 Jagiellońska Street, 40-032, Katowice, Poland
| | - Norbert Słaboń
- Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha St., 40-844, Katowice, Poland
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Li C, Wu H, Wang X, Chu Z, Li Y, Guo J. Determination of Lead Elemental Concentration and Isotopic Ratios in Coal Ash and Coal Fly Ash Reference Materials Using Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E4772. [PMID: 31795164 PMCID: PMC6926799 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The rapid expansion of coal-fired power plants around the world has produced a huge volume of toxic elements associated with combustion residues such as coal fly ash (CFA) and coal ash (CA), which pose great threats to the global environment. It is therefore crucial for environmental science to monitor the migration and emission pathway of toxic elements such as CFA and CA. Lead isotopes have proved to be powerful tracers capable of dealing with this issue. Unfortunately, up to now, few high precision lead isotope data of CFA and CA certified reference materials (CRMs) determined by using the double spike technique have been reported. Hence, to facilitate the application of lead isotopes in environmental science, it is indispensable and urgent to determine a suite of high precision Pb isotope ratios and Pb elemental contents for CFA and CA CRMs. Here, we measured lead isotope ratios from four CFA and CA CRMs using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) combined with the 204Pb-207Pb double spike method. Lead isotope ratios values of CRMs (GBW11124, GBW08401, GBW11125d, and JCFA-1) covered wide variation ranges from 17.993 to 19.228 for 206Pb/204Pb, from 15.513 to 15.675 for 207Pb/204Pb, and from 38.184 to 39.067 for 208Pb/204Pb. Lead isotope ratios of these CRMs, except for GBW11124, show good external reproducibility (2 RSD, n = 8), which is better than 0.05% for 206Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb, 0.07% for 208Pb/204Pb, 0.04% for 206Pb/207Pb, and 0.05% for 208Pb/206Pb. The Pb concentrations of these CRMs were determined using 207Pb single spike method. The reproducibility (1 RSD, n = 4) of Pb elemental content was <0.60%. This indicates the distribution of Pb elements in these CRMs is homogeneous. With the exception of GBW11124, the suite of CRMs can be used for determining CFA and CA matrix composition for quality control of Pb isotope analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; (H.W.); (Z.C.); (Y.L.); (J.G.)
- Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Huiqian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; (H.W.); (Z.C.); (Y.L.); (J.G.)
- Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuance Wang
- Research Centre for Earth System Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Earth System Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China;
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zhuyin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; (H.W.); (Z.C.); (Y.L.); (J.G.)
- Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Youlian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; (H.W.); (Z.C.); (Y.L.); (J.G.)
- Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jinghui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; (H.W.); (Z.C.); (Y.L.); (J.G.)
- Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
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Lepak RF, Hoffman JC, Janssen SE, Krabbenhoft DP, Ogorek JM, DeWild JF, Tate MT, Babiarz CL, Yin R, Murphy EW, Engstrom DR, Hurley JP. Mercury source changes and food web shifts alter contamination signatures of predatory fish from Lake Michigan. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:23600-23608. [PMID: 31685632 PMCID: PMC6876223 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1907484116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the impact reduced mercury (Hg) loading and invasive species have had on methylmercury bioaccumulation in predator fish of Lake Michigan, we reconstructed bioaccumulation trends from a fish archive (1978 to 2012). By measuring fish Hg stable isotope ratios, we related temporal changes in Hg concentrations to varying Hg sources. Additionally, dietary tracers were necessary to identify food web influences. Through combined Hg, C, and N stable isotopic analyses, we were able to differentiate between a shift in Hg sources to fish and periods when energetic transitions (from dreissenid mussels) led to the assimilation of contrasting Hg pools (2000 to present). In the late 1980s, lake trout δ202Hg increased (0.4‰) from regulatory reductions in regional Hg emissions. After 2000, C and N isotopes ratios revealed altered food web pathways, resulting in a benthic energetic shift and changes to Hg bioaccumulation. Continued increases in δ202Hg indicate fish are responding to several United States mercury emission mitigation strategies that were initiated circa 1990 and continued through the 2011 promulgation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule. Unlike archives of sediments, this fish archive tracks Hg sources susceptible to bioaccumulation in Great Lakes fisheries. Analysis reveals that trends in fish Hg concentrations can be substantially affected by shifts in trophic structure and dietary preferences initiated by invasive species in the Great Lakes. This does not diminish the benefits of declining emissions over this period, as fish Hg concentrations would have been higher without these actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan F Lepak
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
- US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, WI 53562
| | - Joel C Hoffman
- US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN 55804
| | - Sarah E Janssen
- US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, WI 53562
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, WI 53562
| | - Jacob M Ogorek
- US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, WI 53562
| | - John F DeWild
- US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, WI 53562
| | - Michael T Tate
- US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, WI 53562
| | - Christopher L Babiarz
- US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Middleton, WI 53562
| | - Runsheng Yin
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guanshanhu District, 550081 Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | | | - Daniel R Engstrom
- St. Croix Watershed Research Station, Science Museum of Minnesota, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047
| | - James P Hurley
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706;
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
- University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center, Madison, WI 53706
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Wang J, Su J, Li Z, Liu B, Cheng G, Jiang Y, Li Y, Zhou S, Yuan W. Source apportionment of heavy metal and their health risks in soil-dustfall-plant system nearby a typical non-ferrous metal mining area of Tongling, Eastern China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:113089. [PMID: 31476672 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The agricultural land-atmospheric dustfall-plant system around the mining area is at high risks of heavy metal pollution caused by mining-smelting activities. In this study, 118 samples (including rhizospheric soils, background soils, soil-forming parent rocks, crops, vegetables, medicinal plants and atmospheric dustfall) were collected nearby Tongling Cu-Fe-Au mining area, Eastern China. We studied the concentrations, migration, sources, and health risks through consumption of two main crops (corn and rice), six kinds of vegetables, and medicinal plants (Fengdan, Paeonia ostii) for six metal elements (Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and Hg). Results revealed Cr and Cd in soils, and Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu and Zn in dustfall showed a relatively high contamination degree. The mean contents of Cr and Pb in corn kernels, as well as Cd, Cr and Pb in rice grains and all vegetables, and Cr in Fengdan cortex moutan exceeded the corresponding food safety limits in China. The transfer capability of Cr in corn kernels and rice grains, Pb in edible vegetables, and Cd in cortex moutan were the strongest, respectively. Health risk assessment results showed Cr had the greatest non-carcinogenic risk, followed by Pb and Cd. The results of pearson's correlation analysis (CA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated Zn-Cr, Pb and Cd-Cu-Hg in the plants might derive from different geochemical end-members. Source apportionment based on lead isotope showed that mining-smelting activities were the major source of Pb in atmospheric dustfall and agricultural soils, with the average contribution rates of 66% and 50%, respectively. Vehicle emissions from diesel fuels (50%-68%) and mining-smelting activities (16%-25%) contributed mainly to Pb accumulation in plants. Hence, our study suggested the accumulations of Pb in plants might be mainly from the direct foliar uptake of atmospheric Pb related to vehicle emissions and mining-smelting activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jingwen Su
- Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Zhonggen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Bingxiang Liu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550001, China.
| | - Guanghua Cheng
- Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Yuehua Jiang
- Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Yucheng Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Shaoqi Zhou
- Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Wenyi Yuan
- Research Center of Resource Recycling Science and Engineering, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China
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Ogrinc N, Hintelmann H, Kotnik J, Horvat M, Pirrone N. Sources of mercury in deep-sea sediments of the Mediterranean Sea as revealed by mercury stable isotopes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11626. [PMID: 31406135 PMCID: PMC6690899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48061-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and its stable isotope composition were used to determine the sources of Hg in deep-sea sediments of the Mediterranean Sea. Surface and down-core sediment δ202Hg values varied widely between -2.30 and +0.78‰, showed consistently positive values for mass independent fractionation of odd Hg isotopes (with average values of Δ199Hg = +0.10 ± 0.04‰ and Δ201Hg = +0.04 ± 0.02‰) and near-zero Δ200Hg values, indicating either multiple Hg sources or a combination of different Hg isotope fractionating processes before and after sediment deposition. Both mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation processes influence the isotopic composition of Hg in the Mediterranean Sea. Positive Δ199Hg values are likely the result of enhanced Hg2+ photoreduction in the Mediterranean water column before incorporation of Hg into sediments, while mass-dependent fractionation decreases δ202Hg values due to kinetic isotope fractionation during deposition and mobilization. An isotope mixing model based on mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation (δ202Hg and Δ199Hg) suggests at least three primary Hg sources of atmospheric deposition in the surface sediments: urban, industrial and global precipitation-derived. Industry is the main source of Hg in Algerian and Western Basin surface sediments and at two sites in the Adriatic Sea, while the urban contribution is most prominent at the Strait of Otranto (MS3) and in Adriatic surface sediments. The contribution from precipitation ranged from 10% in Algerian to 37% in W Basin sediments. Overall, results suggest that atmospheric Hg deposition to Mediterranean surface sediments is dominated by gaseous elemental mercury (58 ± 11%) rather than wet deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nives Ogrinc
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | | | - Jože Kotnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nicola Pirrone
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rome, Italy
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Štrok M, Baya PA, Dietrich D, Dimock B, Hintelmann H. Mercury speciation and mercury stable isotope composition in sediments from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 671:655-665. [PMID: 30939318 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (THg) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) concentrations as well as mercury (Hg) isotope ratios were determined in sediment cores sampled from six locations from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA). At most sites, THg concentrations showed a decreasing trend with depth, ranging from 5 to 61 ng/g, implicating possible increased Hg deposition and/or riverine inputs in top sediment layers. MMHg values showed large oscillations within the top 10 cm of the cores. This variability decreased at the bottom of the cores with MMHg concentrations ranging from less than12 to up to 1073 pg/g. Average concentrations of THg and MMHg in the top 10 cm were linearly correlated, whereas no correlation was observed with organic matter (loss on ignition). Mercury isotope ratios showed negative values for both δ202Hg (-1.59 to -0.55‰) and Δ199Hg (-0.62 to -0.01‰). δ202Hg values became more negative with depth, while the opposite was observed for Δ199Hg. The former is consistent with predicted historical atmospheric Hg trends as a result of increased coal burning worldwide. Hg isotope ratio measurements in CAA sediments offer additional opportunities to trace Hg processes and sources in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Štrok
- Trent University, Department of Chemistry, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J7B8, Canada; Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Pascale Anabelle Baya
- Trent University, Department of Chemistry, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J7B8, Canada
| | - Dörthe Dietrich
- Trent University, Department of Chemistry, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J7B8, Canada; University of Münster, Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Corrensstrasse, 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
| | - Brian Dimock
- Trent University, Department of Chemistry, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J7B8, Canada.
| | - Holger Hintelmann
- Trent University, Department of Chemistry, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J7B8, Canada.
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Kurz AY, Blum JD, Washburn SJ, Baskaran M. Changes in the mercury isotopic composition of sediments from a remote alpine lake in Wyoming, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 669:973-982. [PMID: 30970464 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) deposition from the atmosphere has increased dramatically since 1850 and Hg isotope records in lake sediments can be used to identify changes in the sources and cycling of Hg. We collected a sediment core from a remote lake (Lost Lake, Wyoming, USA) and measured vertical variation of Hg concentration and isotopic composition as well as 210Pb and 137Cs activities to establish a chronology. We also analyzed vegetation and soil samples from the watershed which has a small ratio of watershed area to lake surface area (2.06). The Hg flux remains constant from ~1350 to 1850 before increasing steadily to modern values that are approximately four times pre-1850 values. The modern Hg isotopic composition preserved in the sediments is distinct from the Hg isotopic composition of pre-1850 samples with both δ202Hg and Δ199Hg becoming progressively more positive through time, with shifts of +0.37‰ and +0.23‰ respectively. To explain temporal changes in δ202Hg, Δ199Hg, and Hg concentration in the core segments, we estimated a present-day atmospheric endmember based on precipitation and snow samples collected near Lost Lake. The observed change in Hg isotopic values through time cannot be explained solely by addition of anthropogenic Hg with the isotopic composition that has been estimated by others for global anthropogenic emissions. Instead, the isotope variation suggests that the relative importance of redox transformations, whether in the atmosphere, within the lake, or both, have changed since 1850.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Y Kurz
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
| | - Joel D Blum
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Spencer J Washburn
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Mark Baskaran
- Department of Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
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Yamakawa A, Takami A, Takeda Y, Kato S, Kajii Y. Emerging investigator series: investigation of mercury emission sources using Hg isotopic compositions of atmospheric mercury at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS), Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:809-818. [PMID: 30942203 DOI: 10.1039/c8em00590g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study conducted mercury (Hg) isotopic analysis, which has been expected as a new indicator for understanding the behavior of atmospheric Hg. The dominant atmospheric Hg species, namely gaseous elemental mercury (GEM, Hg0), were collected at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS) in Okinawa, Japan, for evaluating possible source(s) and transformation process(es) of Hg. The Hg isotopic compositions of GEM samples showed that the mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) of δ202Hg and the mass-independent fractionation (MIF) of Δ199Hg ranged from -2.15‰ to 0.79‰ and from -0.32‰ to 0.00‰, respectively. The results were classified into two groups: (1) negative δ202Hg and near-zero Δ199Hg in summer and (2) near-zero δ202Hg and negative Δ199Hg in the other season. According to the NOAA Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, the dominant air masses traveled from East Asia during winter and South and East Asia during summer. However, the air masses also traveled from mainland Japan and rotated around Okinawa before reaching CHAAMS. In contrast, clear positive correlations between δ202Hg values and CO and PM2.5 concentrations were observed during summer. A small peak of Ox concentration was observed at three atmospheric monitoring stations, namely Nago, Naha, and Miyako Island during summer. Since Miyako Island is located ∼370 km southwest of CHAAMS, the main emission source of GEM transported to CHAAMS was not from mainland Okinawa but traveled from the southwest during summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Yamakawa
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Analysis, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan.
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39
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Li CF, Wu HQ, Chu ZY, Wang XC, Li YL, Guo JH. Precise determination of radiogenic Sr and Nd isotopic ratios and Rb, Sr, Sm, Nd elemental concentrations in four coal ash and coal fly ash reference materials using isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Microchem J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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40
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Sun R. Mercury Stable Isotope Fractionation During Coal Combustion in Coal-Fired Boilers: Reconciling Atmospheric Hg Isotope Observations with Hg Isotope Fractionation Theory. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 102:657-664. [PMID: 30603766 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-018-2531-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) stable isotope is a useful tool to understand the transformation of atmospheric Hg. The observation on the enrichment of heavier isotopes in gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) relative to oxidized HgII species in atmosphere cannot be convincingly explained by isotope fractionation of Hg redox processes. This review shows that the large Hg isotope mass dependent fractionation (MDF) in coal-fired boilers is one of the underlying reasons. The reported Hg isotope data of feed coals and their combustion products are first summarized to give a general overview of how Hg isotopes fractionate before Hg discharge from coal-fired boilers. Then, predictive MDF models are discussed to simulate δ202Hg values of different Hg species in coal combustion flue gases. The discharged GEM is predicted to have the highest δ202Hg followed by gaseous HgII and particulate-bound HgII, which is in consistent with the observed MDF pattern of atmospheric Hg species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Sun
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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41
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Jiskra M, Marusczak N, Leung KH, Hawkins L, Prestbo E, Sonke JE. Automated Stable Isotope Sampling of Gaseous Elemental Mercury (ISO-GEM): Insights into GEM Emissions from Building Surfaces. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:4346-4354. [PMID: 30900896 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric monitoring networks quantify gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations, but not isotopic compositions. Here, we present a new method for automated and quantitative stable isotope sampling of GEM (ISO-GEM) at the outlet of a commercial Hg analyzer. A programmable multivalve manifold selects Hg at the analyzer inlet and outlet based on specific criteria (location, time, GEM concentration, auxiliary threshold). Outlet Hg recovery was tested for gold traps, oxidizing acidic solution traps, and activated carbon traps. We illustrate the ISO-GEM method in an exploratory study on the effect of building walls on local GEM. We find that GEM concentrations directly at the building surface (wall inlet) are significantly enhanced (mean 3.8 ± 1.8 ng/m3) compared to 3 m from the building wall (free inlet) (mean 1.5 ± 0.4 ng/m3). GEM δ202Hg (-1.26‰ ± 0.41‰, 1 SD, n = 16) and Δ199Hg (-0.05‰ ± 0.10‰, 1 SD, n = 16) at the wall inlet were different from ambient GEM δ202Hg (0.76‰ ± 0.09‰, 1 SD, n = 16) and Δ199Hg (-0.21‰ ± 0.05‰, 1 SD, n = 16) at the free inlet. The isotopic fingerprint of GEM at the wall inlet suggests that GEM emission from the aluminum building surface affected local GEM concentration measurements. These results illustrate the versatility of the automated Hg isotope sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Jiskra
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse , CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , 31400 Toulouse , France
- Environmental Geosciences , University of Basel , 4056 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Marusczak
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse , CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , 31400 Toulouse , France
| | - Kin-Hung Leung
- Tekran Instruments Corp., M1P 2P4 Toronto , Ontario Canada
| | - Lucas Hawkins
- Tekran Instruments Corp., 98125 Seattle , Washington United States
| | - Eric Prestbo
- Tekran Instruments Corp., 98125 Seattle , Washington United States
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse , CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , 31400 Toulouse , France
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Kim H, Lee K, Lim DI, Nam SI, Han SH, Kim J, Lee E, Han IS, Jin YK, Zhang Y. Increase in anthropogenic mercury in marginal sea sediments of the Northwest Pacific Ocean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 654:801-810. [PMID: 30448670 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Over the past century, the addition of anthropogenic mercury (HgANTH) to vast areas of North Pacific marginal seas adjacent to the northeast Asian continent has tripled. Analysis of sediment cores showed that the rate of HgANTH addition (HgANTH flux) was greatest in the East China and Yellow Seas (9.1 μg m-2 yr-1) in the vicinity of China (the source continent), but was small in the Bering and western Arctic Ocean (Chukchi Sea) (0.9 μg m-2 yr-1; the regions furthest from China). Our results show that HgANTH has reached open ocean sedimentary environments over extended areas of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, via the formation of organic-mercury complexes and deposition. The implication of these findings is that the addition of HgANTH (via atmospheric deposition and riverine input) to the ocean environment is responsible for elevated Hg flux into sedimentary environments in the northwest Pacific Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haryun Kim
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Kitack Lee
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dhong-Il Lim
- South Sea Research Institute, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Marine Environmental Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seung-Il Nam
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hee Han
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihun Kim
- South Sea Research Institute, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Marine Environmental Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunil Lee
- Ocean Research Division, Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Seong Han
- Ocean Climate and Ecology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan 46083, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Keun Jin
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Yanxu Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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Rua-Ibarz A, Bolea-Fernandez E, Maage A, Frantzen S, Sanden M, Vanhaecke F. Tracing Mercury Pollution along the Norwegian Coast via Elemental, Speciation, and Isotopic Analysis of Liver and Muscle Tissue of Deep-Water Marine Fish ( Brosme brosme). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:1776-1785. [PMID: 30652479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Liver and muscle tissue of tusks ( Brosme brosme) have been analyzed for their THg and MeHg concentrations and Hg isotopic signatures for tracing Hg pollution along the Norwegian coast. Clear differences between tissue types and locations were established. At five of the eight locations, the Hg concentration in muscle exceeded the maximum allowable level of 0.5 mg kg-1 wet weight. δ202Hg values in both tissue types indicated that Hg speciation affects the bulk Hg isotopic signature. Tusk liver seems to be more sensitive to immediate changes and to anthropogenic inorganic Hg, while the muscle rather reflects the Hg accumulated over a longer period of exposure. The δ202Hg values of liver and muscle also enabled different sources of Hg and exposure pathways to be distinguished. δ202Hgmuscle-δ202Hgliver showed a clear correlation with the % MeHg in tusk liver for the coastal waters, but not for the fjords. The absence of significant differences in Δ199Hg values between both tissues of tusk from the same location suggests that in vivo metabolic processes are the underlying reason for the differences in Hg speciation and in δ202Hg values. This work highlights the importance of selecting different tissues of marine fish in future Hg monitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rua-Ibarz
- Ghent University , Department of Chemistry, Atomic & Mass Spectrometry Research Unit , Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281-S12 , 9000 Ghent , Belgium
| | - Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez
- Ghent University , Department of Chemistry, Atomic & Mass Spectrometry Research Unit , Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281-S12 , 9000 Ghent , Belgium
| | - Amund Maage
- Institute of Marine Research , Postboks 1870 Nordnes , 5817 Bergen , Norway
| | - Sylvia Frantzen
- Institute of Marine Research , Postboks 1870 Nordnes , 5817 Bergen , Norway
| | - Monica Sanden
- Institute of Marine Research , Postboks 1870 Nordnes , 5817 Bergen , Norway
| | - Frank Vanhaecke
- Ghent University , Department of Chemistry, Atomic & Mass Spectrometry Research Unit , Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281-S12 , 9000 Ghent , Belgium
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44
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Zhang Y, Wang M, Huang B, Akhtar MS, Hu W, Xie E. Soil mercury accumulation, spatial distribution and its source identification in an industrial area of the Yangtze Delta, China. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 163:230-237. [PMID: 30056336 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.07.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Understanding soil mercury (Hg) accumulation, spatial distribution, and its sources is crucial for effective regulation of Hg emissions. We chose a study area covering approximately 100 km2 representing one of the rapid growing industrial towns of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China, to explore soil Hg accumulation. In surface soil, total Hg ranged from 310 to 3760 μg/kg, and 53% samples exceeded the most generous Chinese soil critical value (1500 µg/kg). Hg concentration in rice ranged from 10 to 40 µg/kg, and 43% samples exceeded the regulatory critical value (20 µg/kg). Total Hg concentrations in soil profiles gradually decreased, reaching background levels up to 60 cm profile depth. Meanwhile, proportions of mobile, semi-mobile and non-mobile Hg to total Hg at every soil depth were similar, leading us to deduce that soil Hg has accumulated in this area over a long period. Total and bioavailable Hg in topsoil exhibited the highest concentrations in the center of the study area, and radially decreased towards the periphery, which might be explained by the distribution of industry and the prevailing wind. To trace the Hg sources, we selected soil and atmospheric dust samples for isotope analysis. Hg isotopic composition of surface soil (δ202Hg = -0.29 ± 0.10‰ and Δ199Hg = 0.03 ± 0.03‰) was close to that of atmospheric dust (δ202Hg = -0.54 ± 0.10‰ and Δ199Hg = 0.03 ± 0.05‰), but considerably different from Hg isotopic composition in subsoil (δ202Hg = -0.90 ± 0.09‰ and Δ199Hg = -0.04 ± 0.04‰). Thus, we speculated that atmospheric deposition could change Hg isotopic composition in topsoil. Our findings suggest that when Hg atmospheric dust deposition changes Hg levels in surface soil, soil remediation, and crop safety might be compromised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Mei Wang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Biao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | | | - Wenyou Hu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Enze Xie
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
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45
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Welty CJ, Sousa ML, Dunnivant FM, Yancey PH. High-density element concentrations in fish from subtidal to hadal zones of the Pacific Ocean. Heliyon 2018; 4:e00840. [PMID: 30320235 PMCID: PMC6180415 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic use of high density, toxic elements results in marine pollution which is bio-accumulating throughout marine food webs. While there have been several studies in various locations analyzing such elements in fish, few have investigated patterns in these elements and their isotopes in terms of ocean depth, and none have studied the greatest depth zones. We used a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer-hydride system and an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer to determine concentrations of the high-density elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), plus the light-metal barium (Ba), in fish ranging from bathyal (1000 m in Monterey Bay) to upper hadal zones (6500-7626 m in the Kermadec and Mariana Trenches) in the Pacific Ocean. Five species of fish-including the Mariana Trench snailfish, the world's deepest known fish newly discovered-were analyzed for patterns in total element concentration, depth of occurrence, Se:Hg ratio, plus mercury isotopes in the deepest species. Co and As levels decreased with depth. In the Mariana Trench, Pb, Hg, Cd, and Cu were higher than in all other samples, and higher in those plus Ba than in the Kermadec Trench. The latter samples had far higher Ni and Cr levels than all others. Mercury relative isotope analysis showed no depth trends in the deepest species. Se:Hg showed a large molar excess of Se in bathyal flatfish species. These patterns indicate that exposures to pollutants differ greatly between habitats including trenches of similar depths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor J Welty
- Whitman College Chemistry Dept., Walla Walla, WA, 99362, USA
| | - Matthew L Sousa
- Whitman College Chemistry Dept., Walla Walla, WA, 99362, USA
| | | | - Paul H Yancey
- Whitman College Biology Dept., Walla Walla, WA, 99362, USA
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Liu J, Bi X, Li F, Wang P, Wu J. Source discrimination of atmospheric metal deposition by multi-metal isotopes in the Three Gorges Reservoir region, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 240:582-589. [PMID: 29763861 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of heavy metals, as well as isotopic compositions of mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb), in mosses (Bryum argenteum) from the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) region were investigated to decipher the sources of atmospheric metals in this region. Higher contents of metals (0.90 ± 0.65 mg/kg of Cd, 24.6 ± 27.4 mg/kg of Cu, and 36.1 ± 51.1 mg/kg of Pb) in the mosses from TGR were found compared with those from pollution-free regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) grouped the moss metals into four main components which were associated with both anthropogenic and natural sources. The ratios of Pb isotopes of the mosses (1.153-1.173 for 206Pb/207Pb and 2.094-2.129 for 208Pb/206Pb) fell between those of the traffic emissions and coals. Similarly, the compositions of δ202Hg (-4.29∼-2.33‰) and Δ199Hg (within ±0.2‰) were comparable to those of the coals and coal combustion emissions from China and India. These joined results of Pb and Hg isotope data give solid evidences that the coal combustion and traffic emissions are the main causes of metal accumulation in the TGR region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Liu
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiangyang Bi
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Fanglin Li
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Pengcong Wang
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jin Wu
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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Yuan S, Chen J, Cai H, Yuan W, Wang Z, Huang Q, Liu Y, Wu X. Sequential samples reveal significant variation of mercury isotope ratios during single rainfall events. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:133-144. [PMID: 29248703 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Although the investigation of mercury (Hg) isotopes in precipitation has largely improved our knowledge of the source and transformation of Hg in the atmosphere, rainwater investigated in previous studies were integrated samples collected over an event and could obscure key information about the physiochemical transformation and deposition dynamics of Hg (and its isotopes) in short precipitation events. In this study, we investigated Hg isotopic composition of filtered (HgF) and particulate Hg (HgPM) in sequential rain samples from three single rainfall events in Guiyang, China. All samples showed a decrease of total Hg concentration, as well as HgF and HgPM with time in each rainfall event, and large variation of both mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation of odd Hg isotopes (odd-MIF) for both phases. Isotopic data indicated variable contributions of different sources triggered by the instant change of meteorological conditions, rather than internal atmospheric processes. The rapid response of MDF and odd-MIF of precipitation samples to the incense burning on the Tomb Sweeping Day implied that Hg isotopic composition was very sensitive to the momentary anthropogenic emission, which could have at least a regional short-lived effect and should be taken into account in future studies. Hg isotopes are a powerful tool for investigating both atmospheric transformation and instant deposition dynamic of Hg, and like stable H and O isotopes, could provide useful information about local or regional meteorological changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengliu Yuan
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiubin Chen
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China.
| | - Hongming Cai
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhongwei Wang
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China
| | - Yujie Liu
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China
| | - Xingyang Wu
- Meteorological Information Center of Guizhou, Guiyang 550002, China
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Liu CB, Hua XB, Liu HW, Yu B, Mao YX, Wang DY, Yin YG, Hu LG, Shi JB, Jiang GB. Tracing aquatic bioavailable Hg in three different regions of China using fish Hg isotopes. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 150:327-334. [PMID: 29304475 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.12.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
To trace the most concerned bioavailable mercury (Hg) in aquatic environment, fish samples were collected from three typical regions in China, including 3 rivers and 1 lake in the Tibetan Plateau (TP, a high altitude background region with strong solar radiation), the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR, the largest artificial freshwater reservoir in China), and the Chinese Bohai Sea (CBS, a heavily human-impacted semi-enclosed sea). The Hg isotopic compositions in fish muscles were analyzed. The results showed that anthropogenic emissions were the main sources of Hg in fish from TGR and CBS because of the observed negative δ202Hg and positive Δ199Hg in these two regions (TGR, δ202Hg: - 0.72 to - 0.29‰, Δ199Hg: 0.15 - 0.52‰; CBS, δ202Hg: - 2.09 to - 0.86‰, Δ199Hg: 0.07 - 0.52‰). The relatively higher δ202Hg and Δ199Hg (δ202Hg: - 0.37 - 0.08‰, Δ199Hg: 0.50 - 1.89‰) in fish from TP suggested the insignificant disturbance from local anthropogenic activities. The larger slopes of Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg in fish from TGR (1.29 ± 0.14, 1SD) and TP (1.25 ± 0.06, 1SD) indicated methylmercury (MeHg) was produced and photo-reduced in the water column before incorporation into the fish. In contrast, the photoreduction of Hg2+ was the main process in CBS (slope of Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg: 1.06 ± 0.06, 1SD). According to the fingerprint data of Hg isotopes, the most important source for aquatic bioavailable Hg in TP should be the long-range transported Hg, contrasting to the anthropogenic originated MeHg from surface sediments and runoffs in TGR and inorganic Hg from continental inputs in CBS. Therefore, the isotopic signatures of Hg in fish can provide novel clues in tracing sources and behaviors of bioavailable Hg in aquatic systems, which are critical for further understanding the biogeochemical cycling of Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Bin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiu-Bing Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Hong-Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ben Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yu-Xiang Mao
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Ding-Yong Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Li-Gang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jian-Bo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Gui-Bin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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49
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Tang S, Feng C, Feng X, Zhu J, Sun R, Fan H, Wang L, Li R, Mao T, Zhou T. Stable isotope composition of mercury forms in flue gases from a typical coal-fired power plant, Inner Mongolia, northern China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2017; 328:90-97. [PMID: 28092743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mercury forms emitted from coal combustion via air pollution control devices are speculated to carry different Hg isotope signatures. Yet, their Hg isotope composition is still not reported. Here, we present the first onsite Hg isotope data for gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) and gaseous oxidized Hg (GOM) of flue gases from a typical lignite-fired power plant (CFPP). Significant mass dependent fractionation (MDF) and insignificant mass independent fractionation (MIF) are observed between feed coal and coal combustion products. As compared to feed coal (δ202Hg=-2.04±0.25‰), bottom ash, GEM and GOM in flue gases before and after wet flue gas desulfurization system significantly enrich heavy Hg isotopes by 0.7-2.6‰ in δ202Hg, while fly ash, desulfurization gypsum and waste water show slight but insignificant enrichment of light Hg isotopes. GEM is significantly enriched heavy Hg isotopes compared to GOM and Hg in fly ash. Our observations verify the previous speculation on Hg isotope fractionation mechanism in CFPPs, and suggest a kinetically-controlled mass dependent Hg isotope fractionation during transformation of Hg forms in flue gases. Finally, our data are compared to Hg isotope compositions of atmospheric Hg pools, suggesting that coal combustion Hg emission is likely an important atmospheric Hg contributor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunlin Tang
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, 454000, China.
| | - Chaohui Feng
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, 454000, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Jianming Zhu
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, 454000, China; State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100086, China
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
| | - Huipeng Fan
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, 454000, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, 454000, China
| | - Ruiyang Li
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, 454000, China
| | - Tonghua Mao
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, 454000, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China
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50
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Xu H, Sonke JE, Guinot B, Fu X, Sun R, Lanzanova A, Candaudap F, Shen Z, Cao J. Seasonal and Annual Variations in Atmospheric Hg and Pb Isotopes in Xi'an, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:3759-3766. [PMID: 28253613 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b06145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We present a 3-year time series of lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) concentrations and isotope signatures in total suspended particulate (TSP) matter and as total gaseous Hg (TGM) in Xi'an, Northwestern China. Mean concentrations of TSP (299 ± 120 μg m-3), PbTSP (0.33 ± 0.15 μg m-3) and HgTSP (0.64 ± 0.54 ng m-3), and TGM (5.7 ± 2.7 ng m-3) were elevated. We find that atmospheric Pb levels in winter in Xi'an have decreased by 4.6% per year since 2003, yet remain elevated relative to air quality guidelines and therefore a major health concern. δ202HgTSP and Δ199HgTSP averaged -0.80 ± 0.30‰ (1σ) and -0.02 ± 0.10‰ (1σ) and δ202HgTGM and Δ199HgTGM averaged -0.08 ± 0.41‰ (1σ) and 0.00 ± 0.04‰ (1σ). Relative to raw coal from Shaanxi and surrounding provinces, δ202HgTSP is enriched in the light Hg isotopes, whereas δ202HgTGM is enriched in the heavy isotopes. TSP and TGM Δ199Hg signatures are indistinguishable from raw coal, indicating little photochemical mass independent fractionation of atmospheric Hg in the near-field urban-industrial environment. δ202HgTGM correlates significantly with TGM levels (r2 = 0.3, p < 0.01) and likely reflects binary mixing of local industrial TGM emissions with global background TGM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Xu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an, China
- Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an, China
- Laboratoire d'Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS , Toulouse, France
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , Toulouse, France
| | - Benjamin Guinot
- Laboratoire d'Aérologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS , Toulouse, France
| | - Xuewu Fu
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , Toulouse, France
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , Toulouse, France
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Aurélie Lanzanova
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , Toulouse, France
| | - Frédéric Candaudap
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université de Toulouse , Toulouse, France
| | - Zhenxing Shen
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an, China
| | - Junji Cao
- Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry & Physics, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Xi'an, China
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