Congruence Evaluation of Mercury Pollution Patterns Around a Waste Incinerator over a 16-Year-Long Period Using Different Biomonitors

Abstract

To date, there has been an ever-increasing interest in complementary air monitoring techniques, which may fill the deficiencies of air quality networks. The present work reports the results concerning five biomonitoring surveys (BSs) performed in the proximity of a waste incinerator (WI) over a 16-year period. Hg emission related to the WI activity was monitored by means of both active and passive BSs based on three photosynthetically-active biomonitors (i.e., two epiphytic lichens: Pseudevernia furfuracea and Xanthoria parietina; one vascular plant: Robinia pseudoacacia) collected or exposed before and/or after the WI installation, and after a four-month period of inactivity. Hg concentration values observed in biomonitor samples varied according to the implemented species and to the status of WI plant (active vs. inactive). Our data demonstrate that, in the same pollution scenario, P. furfuracea accumulates three times more Hg than both X. parietina and R. pseudoacacia. The results are discussed in the context of the actual European Union directives concerning air pollution monitoring and assessment, revealing that both active and passive BSs are efficient tools to provide a reliable estimation of the spatial changes of Hg concentrations in the environment.

Accumulation and Release of Mercury in the Lichen Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach

“…Although the ability of lichens to take up Hg and provide accurate patterns of Hg contamination around emission sources is well documented [ 11 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], information on their ability to reflect the decreasing environmental availability of this element is minimal and contrasting. Walther et al [ 25 ] found an efficient long-term ability of lichens to release the accumulated Hg, as a consequence of the phase-out of the contamination source (a chlor-alkali facility), but Godinho et al [ 26 ] and Vannini et al [ 15 ] reported the lack of long- and short-term release of accumulated Hg over time.…”

A Retrospection on Mercury Contamination, Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity in Diverse Environments: Current Insights and Future Prospects

“…Burning of fossil fuels and coal [20] Metal mining [1] Fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical manufacturing [21] Incineration of domestic and industrial waste [22] Volcanic eruption, first fire [23] Hydrosphere exposure…”

An Analytical Method for the Biomonitoring of Mercury in Bees and Beehive Products by Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

“…However, due to the high costs, the monitoring networks for Hg pollution assessment are still characterized by low temporal (generally on an annual basis) and spatial coverage [ 15 ]. For the above reasons, there is growing interest in alternative air monitoring techniques such as plant, insects, lichens, and mosses that can provide reliable time-integrated estimates of air pollution in a given area at low cost [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. In particular, bees and their products such as honey, propolis, and pollen have been proposed as bioindicators of environmental Hg contamination [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”