Mercury Speciation and Total Organic Carbon in Marine Sediments Along the Mediterranean Coast of Israel

Along the Israeli Mediterranean Coast, three areas are considered “hot spots” of mercury (Hg) pollution: (1) Northern Haifa Bay (NHB), (2) the lower Qishon River at the southern part of Haifa Bay, and (3) a marine outfall of activated sewage sludge at the southern coast off Palmachim (sewage-sludge disposal site [SDS]). Even though the total Hg (HgT) concentrations in the sediments at the three areas are of the same order of magnitude (250–500?μg?kg^?1), Hg was shown to bioaccumulate in fish and benthic fauna from Haifa Bay but not in benthic fauna or in commercial fish caught along the southern Mediterranean Coast of Israel near the SDS outfall. The primary goal of this study was to measure the concentrations of Hg species (HgT, methyl-Hg [MeHg], and Hg in different biogeochemical fractions)—in conjunction with organic carbon—in sediments of NHB and the lower Qishon River to assess its impact on Hg transitions among the species as characterized by different bioavailability and bioaccessibility. HgT concentrations in NHB and the Qishon River ranged from 249 to 347 and 165 to 667?μg?kg^?1, respectively. MeHg was significantly higher in the Qishon River (6.3–34.0?μg?kg^?1) than in NHB (0.22–0.70?μg?kg^?1) as were total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations (average 2.5 vs. 0.13?%). The relative Hg distribution in the biogeochemical fractions in NHB was 2.3?% in the most bioaccessible fractions (F1?+?F2), 55?% in the organo-chelated species fraction (F3), 42?% in the strong-complexed species fraction (F4), and 0.7?% in the mercuric-sulfide fraction (F5). In the Qishon River, the bioavailable F1?+?F2 and F3 fractions were lower than in NHB (<0.01 and 23?%, respectively) and the more refractory F4 and F5 fractions higher (73 and 3.3?%, respectively). The fractionation of Hg in Qishon River sediments was similar to the distribution found in polluted stations at the SDS. TOC and MeHg were positively and negatively correlated, respectively, in Qishon River and NHB sediments. Methylation depended on TOC availability when its concentration was in the range of 2–4 wt%. It is possible that TOC in the sediment controlled Hg speciation: Hg in F3 decreased and in F4 increased with increasing TOC concentrations. In contrast, MeHg/HgT was significantly positively correlated with TOC and Hg in the stable F4 fraction and negatively correlated with Hg in the F3 fraction. It was therefore assumed that higher TOC concentrations enhanced microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter. Hg was released from the F3 fraction and was either transferred to the F4 fraction or made available for methylation processes.     

Mercury Contamination of Soil as the Result of Long-Term Phosphate Fertilizer Production

This study was aimed at determining the range and spatial distribution of mercury in a geographical area influenced by the emissions of phosphate fertilizers industries in Rio Grande, Brazil. The case study demonstrated that mercury concentrations in a fine fraction of the surface soil close to the fertilizer factory reached levels as high as 800 microg kg(-1). Increased mercury concentrations were detected up to 60 cm below the soil surface. Further, a significant impact of the elevated mercury levels was manifested in a 1-km zone around the factory. Technical grade sulfuric acid employed in superphosphate production is considered the principal source of this mercury contamination.     

Mercury and Cadmium Contamination of Irrigation Water,Sediment, Soil and Shallow Groundwater in a Wastewater-Irrigated Field in Tianjin,China

We investigated the concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb and As in samples of irrigation water, sediment, soil and groundwater from a field in Tianjin that was irrigated with wastewater. The results showed that the concentrations (Hg, 0.82 μg/L; Cd, 0.18 μg/L; Pb, 1.5 μg/L; As, 8.02 μg/L) in the irrigation water did not exceed the China Surface Water Quality Standard or the maximum concentrations in irrigation water recommended by the FAO. The concentrations of metals in the groundwater of wells (Hg, 0.016 μg/L; Cd, 0.128 μg/L; Pb, 0.25 μg/L; As, 4.65 μg/L) were lower than China Groundwater Quality Standard and the WHO guideline values for drinking water. The groundwater had not yet been contaminated through vertical infiltration-induced leaching. However, a substantial buildup of Hg and Cd in river sediments (I _geo for Hg and Cd; 5.24 and 3.04, respectively) and wastewater-irrigated soils (I _geo for Hg and Cd; 2.50 and 3.09, respectively) was observed. Taken together, these results indicated that irrigation with wastewater damaged the soil quality over the long term and that metals more easily accumulated in vegetable fields than rice fields.     

Evaluation of Species-Specific Dissimilarities in Two Marine Fish Species: Mercury Accumulation as a Function of Metal Levels in Consumed Prey

The aim of this research was to compare mercury (Hg) accumulation (total and organic) and tissue distribution in two marine fish species with contrasting feeding tactics. Thus, juvenile specimens of European sea bass and Golden grey mullet were surveyed in an estuary historically affected by Hg discharges. Total Hg was preferentially accumulated in intestine, muscle, and liver, whereas gills and brain presented the lowest Hg levels observed in both species. Significant differences between species were only verified for muscle, with D. labrax's levels being greater than L. aurata's. Muscle accounted for >87% of the Hg relative tissue burden, whereas liver did not exceed 11%. Organic Hg accumulation occurred mainly in liver and muscle, with D. labrax evidencing significantly greater loads. Moreover, organic Hg in consumed prey items was also significantly greater in D. labrax. Accumulation of organic Hg in liver, intestine, and muscle seemed to vary as a function of the consumed prey items contamination, suggesting fish feeding strategies as the dominant factor determining metal accumulation. For both fish species, a stable ratio was observed between Hg increments from the reference to the contaminated site, possibly indicating that the organic Hg content of diet may regulate the internal levels of this contaminant. Thus, this ratio might prove to be a useful contamination predictor tool in early life stages of fish.     

山西某地区汞环境污染及对居民肾功能的影响

[目的]探讨山西某地区土法炼金活动影响环境中汞（Hg）的分布以及对当地居民肾功能的影响。[方法]用原子荧光光谱法测定大气、水、粮食Hg含量以及居民尿Hg含量，尿N-乙酰-β-D氨基葡萄糖苷酶（NAG）用速率法测定，尿β2-微球蛋白（β2-MG）和尿微量白蛋白（mALB）测定采用终点法。[结果]污染区一年四季监测的大气Hg浓度为79～240ng／m^3，远高于对照区（P〈0．05）；河水中Hg含量超标19倍，达到（0．025±0．006）μg／L。污染区所产的玉米和粟米Hg含量分别为（0．006±0．003）mg／kg和（0．013±0．006）mg／kg，高于对照区（P〈0．05）；污染区居民尿Hg为（1．24±3．80）μg/L、尿β2-MG含量为（228．98±4．34）μg/gCr，均明显高于对照区（P〈0．05）。[结论]污染区炼金过程中产生的Hg对当地环境造成污染，并通过一定途径进入人体，引起当地人群体内Hg负荷水平的改变及肾功能异常。     

Field study of a chlordane residue problem: Soil and plant relationships

Summary We found the highest residue in the organic trash lying on top of the ground of the alfalfa fields and the next highest concentration in the top 1/4' of soil. Concentrations dropped sharply at lower depths. Analysis of alfalfa crowns from fields previously sprayed with chlordane as a means of predicting residue levels in the next crop gave results comparable to those reported by King (3) and seem to hold for alfalfa harvested the first season following discontinuance of spraying.Disposal of milk and manure from a contaminated herd by spreading on a field apparently raises the residue level in the surface trash.Finally, the reliance on the gas Chromatograph alone, even though the analysis of any single sample is done by two or more laboratories, is questionable and an invitation to criticism, as suggested by Bevenue and Beckman (9).     

Geo-Spatial Characterization of Soil Mercury and Arsenic at a High-Altitude Bolivian Gold Mine

Soil mercury concentrations at a typical small-scale mine site in the Bolivian Andes were elevated (28–737 mg/kg or ppm) in localized areas where mercury amalgams were either formed or vaporized to release gold, but was not detectable beyond approximately 10 m from its sources. Arsenic was measurable, exceeding known background levels throughout the mine site (77–137,022 ppm), and was also measurable through the local village of Ingenio (36–1803 ppm). Although arsenic levels were high at all surveyed locations, its spatial pattern followed mercury, being highest where mercury was high.     

污灌土壤有机提取物对小鼠肝肾功能的影响

目的研究土壤有机提取物对小鼠肝、肾功能的影响。方法于2007年5月,选取某污灌农田土壤为研究对象,地下水灌溉农田土壤为对照,采用超声振荡法提取土壤中的有机污染物。将40只健康清洁级昆明种小鼠随机分为5组,分别为溶剂对照组(二甲亚砜)、对照区低剂量组、对照区高剂量组、污灌区低剂量组、污灌区高剂量组,雌雄各半。高、低剂量组染毒剂量(以土壤干重计)分别为25、5g/(kg·d)。采用灌胃方式进行染毒,每日1次,灌胃容量为5ml/kg,连续染毒2周。于第15天处死动物、称重,称量肝、肾组织重量,计算肝、肾组织的脏器系数。测定谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、γ谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)活力和尿酸(UA)、肌酐(Cr)、尿素氮(UN)含量。结果各组小鼠体重变化差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。与溶剂对照组比较,对照区和污灌区各剂量组的肝脏和肾脏重量及其脏器系数均降低,污灌区低剂量组肝组织中的GGT活力和肾组织中的UN含量以及污灌区高剂量组肝组织中的ALT、GGT活力和肾组织中的Cr、UN含量均升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01)。与对照区相同剂量组比较,污灌区高剂量组肝组织中的GGT活力和肾组织中...     

Accumulation of Mercury in Edible Macrofungi: Influence of Some Factors

The levels of mercury in terrestrial ecosystems are generally very low, but the strong accumulation in some species of macrofungi is an exception from this rule. Mercury contents of 41 samples of edible mushrooms fruiting bodies representing eight species (six wild and two cultivated) were determined by an anodic stripping voltammetric technique (ASV) using a gold disc as the working electrode. Wild fungi were collected in unpolluted and polluted areas in the Province of Lugo (NW Spain). Influence of some factors (ecology, species, traffic pollution, and morphological portion) and the importance of mushrooms as a dietary source of mercury have been studied. Wild saprophytic species showed higher levels (ppm DW) than mycorrhizals species, with the exception of Boletus pinicola. There were significant differences according to the species analyzed (p < 0.001), the highest average content of mercury was found in Boletus pinicola (7.37 ppm DW), and the range was 0.35–33.07 ppm DW for hymenophore and 0.18–20.30 ppm DW for the rest of the fruit body. The cultivated species accumulated lower than wild species because the mean life is shorter. The traffic pollution factor did not show significant differences, so mushrooms are not realiable bioindicators of traffic pollution by mercury. Hymenophore was always the morphological portion that contained the highest mercury levels (p < 0.05), and the mean ratio of hymenophore/rest of the fruit body was 2.13. The mercury concentrations were compared to literature data and levels set by legislation, and the contribution of mushrooms to the weekly intake of mercury per person was evaluated. The possible health risk for people is pointed out. Received: 9 September 1998 / Accepted: 15 June 1999     

Mercury Elimination Rates for Adult Northern Pike Esox lucius: Evidence for a Sex Effect

We examined the effect of sex on mercury elimination in fish by monitoring isotope-enriched mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue of three adult female and three adult male northern pike Esox lucius, which had accumulated the isotope-enriched mercury via a whole-lake manipulation and were subsequently moved to a clean lake. Mercury elimination rates for female and male northern pike were estimated to be 0.00034 and 0.00073 day^?1, respectively. Thus, males were capable of eliminating mercury at more than double the rate than that of females. To the best of our knowledge, our study represents the first documentation of mercury elimination rates varying between the sexes of fish. This sex difference in elimination rates should be taken into account when comparing mercury accumulation between the sexes of fish from the same population. Further, our findings should eventually lead to an improved understanding of mechanisms responsible for mercury elimination in vertebrates.     

Soil Nitrification and Denitrification Potentials in a Wheat Field Soil as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2 and Rice Straw Incorporation

No abstract available.     

土壤和沉积物中汞的提取与检测方法研究进展

土壤和沉积物中汞的含量虽少,但其毒性甚大.汞的赋存形态不同,其毒性亦不同,汞总量的测定不能充分揭示汞的毒性及其生物有效性,汞形态分析已成为汞研究不可缺少的一部分.该文总结了近年来土壤和沉积物中总汞及形态汞的提取方法及分析技术,同时介绍了甲基汞的提取与检测方法.     

Effect of pH,Sulphate Concentration and Total Organic Carbon on Mercury Accumulation in Sediments in the Volta Lake at Yeji,Ghana

In this study, pH, total organic carbon, sulphate concentration and mercury concentrations of sediment samples from the Volta Lake at Yeji in the northern part of Ghana were determined. The results indicate that pH ranged from 6.32 to 8.21, total organic carbon ranged from 0.17 to 3.02 g/kg and sulphate concentration from 10.00 to 57.51 mg/kg. Total mercury concentrations ranged from 32.61 to 700 ng/g which is below the International Atomic Energy Agency recommended value of 810 ng/g. Humic substance-bound mercury ranged from 81.15 to 481.31 mg/kg in sediments and its two fractions existed as humic acid-bound mercury > fulvic acid-bound mercury with the ratio of humic substance-bound mercury to fulvic acid-bound mercury as 1.62 on the average. Humic substance-bound mercury and the two fractions fulvic acid-bound mercury and humic substance-bound mercury in sediments were favorably determined and found to correlate significantly positive with total organic carbon (r = 0.538) and total mercury (r = 0.574). However, there were poor correlations between SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations and humic substance-bound mercury (r = −0.391) as well as the two fractions; fulvic acid (r = −0.406) and humic acid (r = −0.381). By assuming that methyl mercury is mostly formed in sediments, these significant relations suggest that the efficiency of mercury being methylated from a given inorganic form depends on the amount, and most likely biochemical composition of total organic carbon in the lake sediment but not the SO₄ ²⁻ concentration.     

Soil Mercury Accumulation and Emissions in a Bamboo Forest in a Compact Fluorescent Lamp Manufacturing Area

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - The role of bamboo forest in soil Hg accumulation and emissions was evaluated by analyzing Hg concentration in soil and plant samples as...     

Head Hair Total Mercury and Methylmercury Levels in Some Ghanaian Individuals for the Estimation of Their Exposure to Mercury: Preliminary Studies

The extent of human exposure to mercury in some individuals in Ghana was evaluated by analysing samples of human head hair for total mercury and methylmercury. The average level of total mercury was 0.843 μg g⁻¹ (in range of 0.119–4.140, n = 123) and that of methylmercury was 0.787 μg g⁻¹ (in range of 0.208–1.847, n = 42). Mercury was present in the hair samples almost completely in the methylated form. The average percentage ratio of methylmercury to total mercury was 97.2% (in range of 88.5%–107.6%). The results of this study indicate low levels of exposure to methylmercury and does not pose a significant risk to the individuals and to a greater extent the general population.