Mercury emission to the atmosphere from municipal solid waste landfills: A brief review

Tao, Zhengkai; Dai, Shijin; Chai, Xin‐Sheng

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.09.046

Cited by 32 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 118 publications

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“…As an artificial contaminated site, a landfill is a complex environment, and its assessment requires a three-dimensional analysis. In recent years, landfill sites as Hg emission source have caused more concern, but a gap of knowledge still remains with respect to the mechanisms of the methylation process [ 24 , 25 ]. Up to now, published studies regarding the methylation and demethylation processes in landfills have rarely been seen.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical Distribution of Total Mercury and Mercury Methylation in a Landfill Site in Japan

Yang

Takaoka

Sano

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Mercury is a neurotoxin, with certain organic forms of the element being particularly harmful to humans. The Minamata Convention was adopted to reduce the intentional use and emission of mercury. Because mercury is an element, it cannot be decomposed. Mercury-containing products and mercury used for various processes will eventually enter the waste stream, and landfill sites will become a mercury sink. While landfill sites can be a source of mercury pollution, the behavior of mercury in solid waste within a landfill site is still not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the depth profile of mercury, the levels of methyl mercury (MeHg), and the factors controlling methylation in an old landfill site that received waste for over 30 years. Three sampling cores were selected, and boring sampling was conducted to a maximum depth of 18 m, which reached the bottom layer of the landfill. Total mercury (THg) and MeHg were measured in the samples to determine the characteristics of mercury at different depths. Bacterial species were identified by 16S rRNA amplification and sequencing, because the methylation process is promoted by a series of genes. It was found that the THg concentration was 19–975 ng/g, with a geometric mean of 298 ng/g, which was slightly less than the 400 ng/g concentration recorded 30 years previously. In some samples, MeHg accounted for up to 15–20% of THg, which is far greater than the general level in soils and sediments, although the source of MeHg was unclear. The genetic data indicated that hgcA was present mostly in the upper and lower layers of the three cores, merA was almost as much as hgcA, while the level of merB was hundreds of times less than those of the other two genes. A significant correlation was found between THg and MeHg, as well as between MeHg and MeHg/THg. In addition, a negative correlation was found between THg and merA. The coexistence of the three genes indicated that both methylation and demethylation processes could occur, but the lack of merB was a barrier for demethylation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical Distribution of Total Mercury and Mercury Methylation in a Landfill Site in Japan

Yang

Takaoka

Sano

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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“…Materials input and outputs have been evaluated in the process of waste management (McDougall et al 2008 ; Marshall and Farahbakhsh 2013 ; Tao et al 2017 ; Roberts et al 2018 ; Kaza et al, 2018 ). Riahi et al ( 2007 ) found that uncertainties exited in two dimensions, that is, uncertainties in emission drivers and their emissions outcomes and targets uncertainty.…”

Section: Water-climate Change Nexus Extensionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water-climate change extended nexus contribution to social welfare and environment-related sustainable development goals in China

2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Climate change exacerbates uncertainties in water resource management, water supply, and treatment that are energy intensive and then exert great pressure on climate change mitigation; hence, interrelated and contradictory characteristics within the water-climate change (WC) nexus system are needed to be studied. The nexus thinking and coordination of WC would impact many realistic practices and assist in sustainable socioeconomic development since traditional single-target policies have sometimes been out of function. Hence, the ability to direct water production and use as well as climate change mitigation has become a hotspot recently. Furthermore, we find that there has been no complete research on reviewing the impacts of the WC nexus in different areas on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, this paper builds a core nexus of WC and then analyzes those effects on social and environmental aspects in many areas, including sewage treatment, energy transition, waste treatment, land management, and ocean management. This paper discusses how WC interlinkages are utilized to realize SDGs in those areas. Moreover, uncertainties derived from exogenous hydrology, climate change, and anthropogenic endogenous systems for realistic problems appeal to gradually increasing concern. Finally, implications offer valuable guidelines for integrated management of water and carbon emissions, as well as sustainable socioeconomic development in the future.

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“…Approximately 85% of urban and older towns still rely on unhygienic landfills where waste is not properly separated, leading to the burial of hazardous waste, including Hg-containing waste. The main contributing factor to this situation is the disposal of solid waste containing mercury such as skin care products [11], thermometers, lamps, batteries, watches, and switches [12], which enter landfills for treatment via the waste stream [13]. As a result, landfills in Vietnam have become potential sources of mercury pollution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Mercury Accumulation in Paddy Soil around Nam Son Landfill, Hanoi, Vietnam

Thi Quynh,

Jeong,

Elwaleed

et al. 2024

Soil Systems

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Landfills have the potential to contribute to mercury (Hg) pollution, due to the burial of waste containing mercury. Mercury from domestic waste can enter the soil surrounding landfills through surface runoff and leachate. In this study, we assessed the levels of Hg in the paddy soil around the Nam Son landfill, the largest landfill in the North of Vietnam, during both rainy (September 2021) and dry (January 2022) seasons. The concentration of Hg was in the range of 20.5 to 79.7 μg/kg dry w.t. in Bac Son and Nam Son, and 16.6 μg/kg dry w.t. at a higher reference site. In most of the samples, the rainy season showed higher Hg concentrations than the dry season. Soil samples taken closer to the landfill exhibited higher levels of Hg contamination compared to those in more distant paddy areas, suggesting a decreasing trend of Hg concentration as one moves away from the pollution source. Additionally, Hg concentration was found to decrease vertically from the surface, with the higher value observed in the surface layer (0–5 cm), and the lower in the bottom layer (20–25 cm). The geo-accumulation index showed that all the sampling points were moderately to heavily polluted, indicating that Hg was lost from the waste source in the landfill. This study provides valuable insights into the spatial and vertical distribution of Hg pollution in the topsoil and highlights the importance of managing and assessing the risks of Hg-containing waste.

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Mercury emission to the atmosphere from municipal solid waste landfills: A brief review

Cited by 32 publications

References 118 publications

Vertical Distribution of Total Mercury and Mercury Methylation in a Landfill Site in Japan

Vertical Distribution of Total Mercury and Mercury Methylation in a Landfill Site in Japan

Water-climate change extended nexus contribution to social welfare and environment-related sustainable development goals in China

Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Mercury Accumulation in Paddy Soil around Nam Son Landfill, Hanoi, Vietnam

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