Atmospheric particulate mercury in the megacity Beijing: Efficiency of mitigation measures and assessment of health effects

Schleicher, Nina; Schäfer, Jörg; Chen, Y.; Blanc, Guillaume; Chen, Y.; Chai, Fahe; Cen, Kuang; Norra, Stefan

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.09.040

Cited by 20 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 61 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…Coal combustion has been identified as the major source of particulate mercury in aerosol samples in Beijing [ 6 ]. Because there is a potential link between atmospheric particles and contaminated soils, Schleicher et al (2016) compared atmospheric particulate Hg concentrations in total suspended particulates samples from Beijing with soil guideline values for the concentration of Hg [ 36 ]. Their results showed that average particulate Hg concentrations in August were 1.03±0.21mg/kg between 2006 and 2010, 2.24±0.85mg/kg in December between 2005 and 2010, and 2.11±0.66 mg/kg in January between 2006 and 2011.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace metals, organic carbon and nutrients in the Beidagang Wetland Nature Reserve, northern China

et al. 2018

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This study aimed to determine sediment contamination in the Beidagang Wetland Nature Reserve to describe atmospheric deposition of trace metals. We analyzed Hg, Cd, Pb, TOC, TN, TP, δ13C, and δ15N, and studied their variations in surface sediments and in the vertical profiles of sediment cores collected from the reserve. Evaluation of environmental trace metal contamination using sediment quality guidelines and geochemical background values indicated that the risk of metal pollution in the reserve sediments was relatively low. Concentrations of Hg, Cd, and Pb in the sediments were much lower than concentrations in sediment samples from Bohai Bay and polluted rivers in Tianjin. Enrichment factors indicate that samples are moderately contaminated with Hg, Cd, and Pb; whereas the geo-accumulation index results classify the sediments as uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Hg, Cd, and Pb. The distribution patterns of trace metal concentrations in the three core samples were uniform. δ13C and δ15N were used to track the sources of TOC and TN in sediments. Results show that TOC mainly originated from the residue and decaying matter of aquatic plants (e.g., algae, reeds, and Typha), while TN was derived from soil N and elevated atmospheric N deposition. Because domestic and industrial waste is not discharged into the Beidagang Wetland Nature Reserve, trace metals found in sediments mainly originate from atmospheric deposition. The results provide baseline data for analysis of trace metal accumulation in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, a region subject to atmospheric deposition in northern China.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace metals, organic carbon and nutrients in the Beidagang Wetland Nature Reserve, northern China

et al. 2018

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“…2(a)), suggesting that Hg is generally associated with PM 10 . Furthermore, comparisons with HgP/PM 10 ratios from natural sources (e.g., dust and topsoil; 56-300 ng g -1 ; Schleicher et al, 2016) and background values from Himalayan topsoil (3.82-105.7 ng g -1 ; Tripathee et al, 2019b) reveal that the HgP/PM 10 ratio in Kanpur is higher than that of natural sources, suggesting an anthropogenic origin of the Hg. A study reported that the Hg content in Indian coal varied from 1800 to 6100 ng g -1 , and the Hg concentration in the soil at different locations around a steel plant in Bhilai varied from 3590 to 16,580 ng g -1 (Koshle et al, 2008).…”

Section: Atmospheric Hgp Concentrations At Kanpurmentioning

confidence: 91%

Study on Mercury in PM10 at an Urban Site in the Central Indo-Gangetic Plain: Seasonal Variability and Influencing Factors

Guo

Ram

Tripathee

et al. 2020

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Mercury (Hg) is among the most toxic metals possessing a major threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems over the globe. However, measurement of Hg concentrations and seasonal variability remain poorly understood over the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) in northern India. In this study, we present one-year data of particulate-bound mercury (HgP) in aerosol samples (PM 10) collected from Kanpur to understand seasonal variability and factors influencing concentration, as well as dry deposition flux. The HgP concentration exhibit a large temporal variability and ranged between 100 (on 14 June 2007) to 4340 pg m-3 (on 4 March 2007) with an annual average concentration of HgP is 776 ± 846 pg m-3. The HgP concentrations and HgP/PM 10 ratios showed a marked seasonality with the highest in winter (Dec-Feb) followed by post-monsoon (Oct-Nov) and summer (April-June) seasons. HgP and HgP/PM 10 were positively correlated (r 2 = 0.77, p < 0.05, N = 58) during the sampling period and the estimated dry deposition flux of HgP was 104.7 µg m-2 y-1. Although this study provides a comprehensive data set on HgP in an urban atmosphere of the IGP revealing high levels of HgP, measurement of gaseous Hg is needed for estimation of the total Hg budget. Therefore, future studies should focus on identification of different sources as well as emission characteristics of all forms of Hg (organic and inorganic forms) for better mitigation strategy to prevent health risks associated with toxic Hg in the region.

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“…The most relevant exposure routes for PBM are inhalation and non-dietary ingestion, as well as dermal absorption by the skin [40]. The inhaled fraction is especially harmful to human health, as it can penetrate almost completely into the deepest parts of the respiratory tract, at the gas-exchange region [41].…”

Section: Pbm Pollution In the Central Italian Herbariummentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle-Bound Mercury Characterization in the Central Italian Herbarium of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence (Italy)

Ciani

Chiarantini

Costagliola

et al. 2021

Toxics

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Museums air quality can be negatively affected by treatments with heavy metals compounds employed to prevent pest infestations. Among these, the past use of mercury dichloride (HgCl2) on herbaria artifacts currently produces high levels of indoor atmospheric gaseous mercury (Hg0) and possibly of particulate bound Hg (PBM), i.e., the particulate matter containing Hg. This study evaluates the PBM pollution in the Central Italian Herbarium (Natural History Museum of the University of Florence, Italy), characterizing the size range and chemical speciation with SEM-EDS microanalysis. The analysis of the total Hg concentration in the samples allowed to calculate the workers exposure risk to this pollutant. PBM is almost totally classifiable as fine particulate with a significant dimensional increase in a period of scarce attendance of the Herbarium rooms. The microanalysis indicates that Hg is essentially bound to S, highlighting the change of Hg speciation from the original association with Cl. The average Hg concentration reveals a potential health risk for workers as result of multiple Hg exposure pathways, mainly by ingestion. The study provides information for characterizing PBM pollution that could affect a workplace atmosphere and a useful basis to evaluate and correctly design solution strategies to reduce the contamination levels and protect workers’ health.

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Atmospheric particulate mercury in the megacity Beijing: Efficiency of mitigation measures and assessment of health effects

Cited by 20 publications

References 61 publications

Trace metals, organic carbon and nutrients in the Beidagang Wetland Nature Reserve, northern China

Trace metals, organic carbon and nutrients in the Beidagang Wetland Nature Reserve, northern China

Study on Mercury in PM10 at an Urban Site in the Central Indo-Gangetic Plain: Seasonal Variability and Influencing Factors

Particle-Bound Mercury Characterization in the Central Italian Herbarium of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence (Italy)

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