Analysis of Mercury Pollution in Air in Urban Area of Riga Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

Toxicity of mercury and its compounds is well known, and they are considered as substances of heightened concern. Though mercury is to some extent released into the environment by natural processes such as volcanic eruptions, additional releases from anthropogenic sources have increased the environmental exposure and deposition significantly. There are many commonly used items containing mercury, for instance, mercury light bulbs, switches, and mercury thermometers, the disposal of which into trashcans can cause an increase of mercury concentration in the air of the local area. The paper reports mercury pollution surveys performed in several districts of Riga (the capital of Latvia). Using an RA 915+ Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometer, the concentration of mercury was measured in the air above objects of interest. The measurements mainly made from driving a car equipped with a GPS receiver have allowed the assignment of Hg concentration to a particular place to provide a digitised pollution database in geographic coordinates at different times. Results of the surveys show the background concentration of atmospheric mercury in Riga generally did not exceed 5 ng/m 3 while some places of increased mercury pollution need particular attention and clean-up. Examples of such surveys are shown.

Assessing Mercury Pollution Using Black Stork Eggshells

“…However, our results indicate some, although not very high, presence of mercury in the surrounding environment. Possible local sources of mercury include anthropogenic activity such as peat extraction [21], forestry [22], cement production [23], illegal dumps and waste incineration (van Veizen et al, 2002 [24], Bogans [25], and historical presence of military forces from World War I and II [26]. Possible natural sources of mercury include beaver ponds [26].…”