Indoor and outdoor elemental mercury: a comparison of three different cases

Abstract

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations were determined in three different indoor environments: an office in a building with no indoor sources of mercury (Bldg. I), an office affected by indoor mercury emissions from an adjacent laboratory (Bldg. II), and finally, an office where an outdoor mercury spill occurred accidentally (Bldg. III). The maximum recorded indoor GEM concentrations, with the largest variation in time, were observed in Bldg. II, with a continuous indoor mercury source (lower to upper quartile 15 to 62 ng m). The lowest values were recorded in Bldg. I (lower to upper quartile 3 to 5 ng m), where indoor GEM levels were affected mainly by the exhaust of vehicles in the parking lot of the building. The monitoring of GEM indoors (lower to upper quartile 15 to 42 ng m), and outdoors (in several heights) of the Bldg. III, revealed that the cleaning up procedure that followed the spill was not adequate. Auxiliary measurements in the first two cases were the indoor microclimatic conditions, as well as the indoor CO concentrations, and in the third case the outdoor meteorological data. The exhaust of vehicles, the chemical reagents, and an outdoor mercury spill were found to mainly affect the observed indoor GEM levels. People in Bldg. II and people walking through the area, where Hg was spilled, were found to be exposed to concentrations above some guide values.

Associations between Urinary Mercury/Cadmium Concentrations and Anthropometric Features in Korean Children

“…Recent research has also demonstrated a correlation between residential atmospheric heavy metal concentrations and urinary mercury concentrations in Korean adults, suggesting that urinary mercury levels could be an alternative indicator for atmospheric mercury exposure [ 25 ]. The dynamics of outdoor air can introduce airborne mercury to indoor environments, influencing indoor air quality and, subsequently, house dust heavy metal concentrations [ 26 , 27 ]. Young children are particularly vulnerable to mercury exposure from house dust due to their frequent hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth behaviors, proximity to the ground, and tendency to spend more time on the floor [ 8 ].…”

Spatial and seasonal dynamics of gaseous elemental mercury concentrations over Switzerland observed by a passive air sampler network

“…30 In the city of Basel, however, Hg 0 concentrations were not elevated close to such point sources. 29 Diffusive urban Hg 0 sources include indoor Hg emissions to the environment that may originate from a variety of household items such as uorescent and compact uorescent lamps, thermometers, barometers, electrical switches, relays or paints, 29,53,54 or re-emission from buildings and surfaces. 55,56 As reported in earlier studies, the total of these urban Hg 0 emissions increased the Hg 0 concentration at the urban sites Zurich-Kaserne (ZUE) and Basel-Klingelbergstrasse (CH-BAS) as well as at the suburban site Basel-Binningen (BAS).…”

Current State of Indoor Air Phytoremediation Using Potted Plants and Green Walls

“…It can discharge into the atmosphere from a diversity of anthropogenic and natural sources. A substantial amount of observed mercury is transmitted from the burning process of fuels (36%) and biomass (33%) [39,40].…”