Determination of Mercury Evasion in a Contaminated Headwater Stream

Maprani, Antu C.; Al, Tom A.; MacQuarrie, Kerry T.B.; Dalziel, J.; Shaw, Sean A.; Yeats, P. A.

doi:10.1021/es048962j

Cited by 24 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Cyanide-containing tailings from an open-pit gold mine near the boreal zone in eastern Canada that closed in 1992 continue to leach mercury and other metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, Pb) from a contaminated groundwater plume into a headwater stream, resulting in highly elevated mercury concentrations (Maprani et al 2005;Al et al 2006). An earlier study at the same site near the boreal zone also reported elevated aqueous gold concentrations in stream water originating from the weathering of tailings piles (Leybourne et al 2000).…”

Section: Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts and prognosis of natural resource development on water and wetlands in Canada’s boreal zone

et al. 2015

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Industrial development within Canada's boreal zone has increased in recent decades. Forest management activities, pulp and paper operations, electric power generation, mining, conventional oil and gas extraction, nonconventional oil sand development, and peat mining occur throughout the boreal zone with varying impacts on water resources. We review impacts of these industries on surface water, groundwater, and wetlands recognizing that heterogeneity in the dominance of different hydrologic processes (i.e., precipitation, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge, and runoff generation) across the boreal zone influences the degree of impacts on water resources. Through the application of best management practices, forest certification programs, and science-based guidelines, timber, pulp and paper, and peat industries have reduced their impacts on water resources, although uncertainties remain about long-term recovery following disturbance. Hydroelectric power developments have moved toward reducing reservoir size and creating more natural flow regimes, although impacts of aging infrastructure and dam decommissioning is largely unknown. Mineral and metal mining industries have improved regulation and practices, but the legacy of abandoned mines across the boreal zone still presents an ongoing risk to water resources. Oil and gas industries, including non-conventional resources such as oil sands, is one of the largest industrial users of water and, while significant progress has been made in reducing water use, more work is needed to ensure the protection of water resources. All industries contribute to atmospheric deposition of pollutants that may eventually be released to downstream waters. Although most industrial sectors strive to improve their environmental performance with regards to water resources, disruptions to natural flow regimes and risks of degraded water quality exist at local to regional scales in the boreal zone. Addressing the emerging challenge of managing the expanding, intensifying, and cumulative effects of industries in conjunction with other stressors, such as climate change and atmospheric pollution, across the landscape will aid in preserving Canada's rich endowment of water resources.Key words: natural resources, development, hydrology, biogeochemistry, cumulative effects, water quality, water quantity. Résumé :Le développement industriel dans la zone boréale canadienne s'est accru au cours des récentes décades. Les activités en aménagement forestier, les opérations dans les pâtes et papiers, la génération de pouvoir électrique, les mines, l'extraction de l'huile et du gaz conventionnel, le développement non conventionnel des sables bitumineux ainsi que le prélèvement de la tourbe s'effectuent sur l'ensemble de la zone boréale avec divers impacts sur les ressources hydriques. Les auteurs passent en revue les impacts de ces industries sur l'eau de surface, l'eau souterraine et les terrains humides, tout en reconnaissant que l'hétérogénéité de la dominance des différents processus ...

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Section: Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts and prognosis of natural resource development on water and wetlands in Canada’s boreal zone

et al. 2015

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“…Today, the gold mines are abandoned; however, the mine tailings still exist and may have contaminated soils, rivers, and lakes nearby Parsons et al, 2012). Evasion of GEM from contaminated soils and rivers (Maprani et al, 2005) were found to be significant, but further research is needed to track the transport of the gold mine tailings. The resuspension of contaminated soils due to recreational activities is also a potential source of PBM and is currently subject to further research into human health impacts (Parsons et al, 2010).…”

Section: Local Sources Of Hg From Conditional Probability Function (Cpf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentration-weighted trajectory approach to identifying potential sources of speciated atmospheric mercury at an urban coastal site in Nova Scotia, Canada

Cheng¹,

et al. 2013

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Regional and local sources contributing to gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), and particle-bound mercury (PBM) at an urban coastal site in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada were investigated using the Concentration-Weighted Trajectory model (CWT) and Conditional Probability Function. From 2010–2011, GEM, GOM, and PBM concentrations were 1.67 ± 1.01 ng m⁻³, 2.07 ± 3.35 pg m⁻³, and 2.32 ± 3.09 pg m⁻³, respectively. Seasonal variability was observed, with statistically higher GEM and PBM concentrations in winter and spring and higher GOM in spring. In the CWT, concentrations are the weighting factors for the trajectory residence time in modeled grid cells, which results in the identification of source areas based on the CWT values in the grid cells. Potential source areas were identified in regions with known industrial Hg sources particularly in the fall season, but also in regions without these sources (e.g. Atlantic Ocean, northern Ontario and Quebec). CWTs for GOM and PBM that were associated with ≥ 5 kg industrial Hg emissions from 2010–2011 were statistically larger than those with zero Hg emissions, despite a lack of strong correlations. A large proportion of elevated CWTs (85–97%) was in regions with zero industrial Hg sources indicating the potential role of non-point sources, natural emissions, and residential-scale combustion. Analysis of wind data suggests that a commercial harbor and vehicular traffic were potential local sources. Evaluating modeled source areas against Hg emissions inventories was not an ideal method for assessing the CWT model accuracy because of insufficient data on Hg emissions at more precise locations

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“…[15]. Current atmospheric mercury contamination in outdoor urban air is (0.01-0.02 µg/m 3 ) indoor concentrations are significantly elevated over outdoor concentrations, in the range 0.0065-0.523 µg/m 3 (average 0.069 µg/m 3 ) [17]. Mercury also enters into the environment through the improper disposal (e.g., land filling, incineration) of certain products.…”

Section: Major Gaseous Pollutantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Air Pollutants on Vegetation and the Role of Vegetation in Reducing Atmospheric Pollution

Gheorghe¹,

Barbu²

2011

The Impact of Air Pollution on Health, Economy, Environment and Agricultural Sources

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The main air pollutants are represented by gases forms, particles in suspension, different ionizing radiation and noise. The gases forms are: oxidized and reduced forms of carbon (CO 2 , CO, CH 4 ), of nitrogen (NO 2 , NO, N 2 O 4 , NH 3 , NH 4+ ), SO 2 , O 3 , C 6 H 6 vapours, Hg, volatile phenols, Cl 2 , etc. The particulate forms are: PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter, heavy metals with toxic effect (Pb, Ni, Cd, As), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs, etc. Atmospheric pollutants have a negative effect on the plants; they can have direct toxic effects, or indirectly by changing soil pH followed by solubilization of toxic salts of metals like aluminum. The particulate matters have a negative mechanical effect. They cover the leaf blade reducing light penetration and blocking the opening of stomata. These impediments influence strongly the process of photosynthesis which rate declines sharply. Also the leaves of the trees have an important role in retention of the particulate matters; they are mostly affected when the wet and dry atmospheric deposition increase. The vegetation plays an important positive role in atmospheric purification and air pollutants reduction. The primary producers represented by plants are an important component in biogeochemical cycles. The vegetation made exchanges with a part of the atmospheric gases by photosynthesis, respiration processes, and the final stage of litter decomposition which mineralization. The plants play an important role in reducing atmospheric CO 2 content, by photosynthesis. This reduction of atmospheric CO 2 content has an important role in reducing of greenhouse gases, participating in reducing greenhouse effect and its consequences on climatic changes. The carbon stored in plants is the result of balance between carbon fixed by photosynthesis and carbon released in the atmosphere by respiration. As the structure of vegetation is more complex, the carbon stock in plants biomass is higher and the period of storage is longer. The most efficient type of vegetation in storing carbon in terms of carbon stored in plants alive is the temperate-continental forest; and in terms of carbon stored in dead organic matter are peat lands.

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Determination of Mercury Evasion in a Contaminated Headwater Stream

Cited by 24 publications

References 44 publications

Impacts and prognosis of natural resource development on water and wetlands in Canada’s boreal zone

Impacts and prognosis of natural resource development on water and wetlands in Canada’s boreal zone

Concentration-weighted trajectory approach to identifying potential sources of speciated atmospheric mercury at an urban coastal site in Nova Scotia, Canada

The Effects of Air Pollutants on Vegetation and the Role of Vegetation in Reducing Atmospheric Pollution

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