Isotopic Characterization of Atmospheric Gaseous Elemental Mercury by Passive Air Sampling

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (17) ◽  
pp. 10533-10543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Szponar ◽  
David S. McLagan ◽  
Robert J Kaplan ◽  
Carl P. J. Mitchell ◽  
Frank Wania ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Sampling ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Passive Air Sampling ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Isotopic Characterization

scholarly journals A smart nanofibrous material for adsorbing and detecting elemental mercury in air

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 6883-6893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Macagnano ◽  
Viviana Perri ◽  
Emiliano Zampetti ◽  
Andrea Bearzotti ◽  
Fabrizio De Cesare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Hybrid Materials ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Air Sampling ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Environmental Applications ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury

Abstract. The combination of the affinity of gold for mercury and nanosized frameworks has allowed for the design and fabrication of novel kinds of sensors with promising sensing features for environmental applications. Specifically, conductive sensors based on composite nanofibrous electrospun layers of titania easily decorated with gold nanoparticles were developed to obtain nanostructured hybrid materials capable of entrapping and revealing gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) traces from the environment. The electrical properties of the resulting chemosensors were measured. A few minutes of air sampling were sufficient to detect the concentration of mercury in the air, ranging between 20 and 100 ppb, without using traps or gas carriers (LOD: 1.5 ppb). Longer measurements allowed the sensor to detect lower concentrations of GEM. The resulting chemosensors are expected to be low cost and very stable (due to the peculiar structure), requiring low power, low maintenance, and simple equipment.

scholarly journals Thermodynamics of reactions of ClHg and BrHg radicals with atmospherically abundant free radicals

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 17887-17911
Author(s):  
T. S. Dibble ◽  
M. J. Zelie ◽  
H. Mao
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Quantum Chemical ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Quantum Calculations ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
The Stability

Abstract. Quantum calculations are used to determine the stability of reactive gaseous mercury (Hg(II)) compounds likely to be formed in the Br-initiated oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)). Due to the absence of any evidence, current models neglect the possible reaction of BrHg• with abundant radicals such as NO, NO2, HO2, ClO, or BrO. The present work demonstrates that BrHg• forms stable compounds, BrHgY, with all of these radicals except NO. Additional calculations on the analogous ClHgY compounds reveal that the strength of the XHg-Y bond (for X=Cl, Br) varies little with the identity of the halogen. Calculations further suggest that ClO, BrO, and NO3 do not form strong bonds with Hg(0), and cannot initiate Hg(0) oxidation in the gas phase. The theoretical approach is validated by comparison to published data on HgX2 compounds, both from experiments and highly refined quantum chemical calculations. Quantum calculations on the stability of the anions of XHgY are carried out in order to aid future laboratory studies aimed at molecular-level characterization of gaseous Hg(II) compounds. Spectroscopic data on BrHg• are analyzed to determine the equilibrium constant for its formation, and BrHg• is determined to be much less stable than previously estimated. An expression is presented for the rate constant for BrHg• dissociation.

scholarly journals Characterization of inhalation exposure to gaseous elemental mercury during artisanal gold mining and e-waste recycling through combined stationary and personal passive sampling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie A. Snow ◽  
Godfred Darko ◽  
Opoku Gyamfi ◽  
Eugene Ansah ◽  
Knut Breivik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Passive Sampling ◽  
Inhalation Exposure ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Complementary Information ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Gold Miners

Stationary and personal passive sampling provides complementary information on the inhalation exposure to gaseous elemental mercury among Norwegian e-waste workers, and Ghanaian artisanal gold miners and community members.

Synthesis and characterization of nano-sized Mn–TiO2 catalysts and their application to removal of gaseous elemental mercury

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 2511-2522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangkun Xie ◽  
Naiqiang Yan ◽  
Shijian Yang ◽  
Zan Qu ◽  
Wanmiao Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Synthesis And Characterization ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury

scholarly journals Thermodynamics of reactions of ClHg and BrHg radicals with atmospherically abundant free radicals

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 10271-10279 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Dibble ◽  
M. J. Zelie ◽  
H. Mao
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Quantum Chemical ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Quantum Calculations ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
The Stability

Abstract. Quantum calculations are used to determine the stability of reactive gaseous mercury (Hg(II)) compounds likely to be formed in the Br-initiated oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)). Due to the absence of any evidence, current models neglect the possible reaction of BrHg with abundant radicals such as NO, NO2, HO2, ClO, or BrO. The present work demonstrates that BrHg forms stable compounds, BrHgY, with all of these radicals except NO. Additional calculations on the analogous ClHgY compounds reveal that the strength of the XHg-Y bond (for X = Cl, Br) varies little with the identity of the halogen. Calculations further suggest that HO2 and NO3 do not form strong bonds with Hg(0), and cannot initiate Hg(0) oxidation in the gas phase. The theoretical approach is validated by comparison to published data on HgX2 compounds, both from experiment and highly refined quantum chemical calculations. Quantum calculations on the stability of the anions of XHgY are carried out in order to aid future laboratory studies aimed at molecular-level characterization of gaseous Hg(II) compounds. Spectroscopic data on BrHg is analyzed to determine the equilibrium constant for its formation, and BrHg is determined to be much less stable than previously estimated. An expression is presented for the rate constant for BrHg dissociation.

scholarly journals Air Concentrations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury and Vegetation–Air Fluxes within Saltmarshes of the Tagus Estuary, Portugal

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Rute Cesário ◽  
Nelson J. O’Driscoll ◽  
Sara Justino ◽  
Claire E. Wilson ◽  
Carlos E. Monteiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Tagus Estuary ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Mercury Flux ◽  
Sarcocornia Fruticosa ◽  
Air Concentrations

In situ air concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) and vegetation–atmosphere fluxes were quantified in both high (Cala Norte, CN) and low-to-moderate (Alcochete, ALC) Hg-contaminated saltmarsh areas of the Tagus estuary colonized by plant species Halimione portulacoides (Hp) and Sarcocornia fruticosa (Sf). Atmospheric Hg(0) ranged between 1.08–18.15 ng m−3 in CN and 1.18–3.53 ng m−3 in ALC. In CN, most of the high Hg(0) levels occurred during nighttime, while the opposite was observed at ALC, suggesting that photoreduction was not driving the air Hg(0) concentrations at the contaminated site. Vegetation–air Hg(0) fluxes were low in ALC and ranged from −0.76 to 1.52 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Hp and from −0.40 to 1.28 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Sf. In CN, higher Hg fluxes were observed for both plants, ranging from −9.90 to 15.45 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Hp and from −8.93 to 12.58 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Sf. Mercury flux results at CN were considered less reliable due to large and fast variations in the ambient air concentrations of Hg(0), which may have been influenced by emissions from the nearby chlor-alkali plant, or historical contamination. Improved experimental setup, the influence of high local Hg concentrations and the seasonal activity of the plants must be considered when assessing vegetation–air Hg(0) fluxes in Hg-contaminated areas.

scholarly journals An Integrated Investigation of Atmospheric Gaseous Elemental Mercury Transport and Dispersion Around a Chlor-Alkali Plant in the Ossola Valley (Italian Central Alps)

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Laura Fantozzi ◽  
Nicoletta Guerrieri ◽  
Giovanni Manca ◽  
Arianna Orrù ◽  
Laura Marziali
Keyword(s):  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
Dispersion Pattern ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Mercury Transport ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Hg Accumulation

We present the first assessment of atmospheric pollution by mercury (Hg) in an industrialized area located in the Ossola Valley (Italian Central Alps), in close proximity to the Toce River. The study area suffers from a level of Hg contamination due to a Hg cell chlor-alkali plant operating from 1915 to the end of 2017. We measured gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) levels by means of a portable Hg analyzer during car surveys between autumn 2018 and summer 2020. Moreover, we assessed the long-term dispersion pattern of atmospheric Hg by analyzing the total Hg concentration in samples of lichens collected in the Ossola Valley. High values of GEM concentrations (1112 ng m−3) up to three orders of magnitude higher than the typical terrestrial background concentration in the northern hemisphere were measured in the proximity of the chlor-alkali plant. Hg concentrations in lichens ranged from 142 ng g−1 at sampling sites located north of the chlor-alkali plant to 624 ng g−1 in lichens collected south of the chlor-alkali plant. A north-south gradient of Hg accumulation in lichens along the Ossola Valley channel was observed, highlighting that the area located south of the chlor-alkali plant is more exposed to the dispersion of Hg emitted into the atmosphere from the industrial site. Long-term studies on Hg emission and dispersion in the Ossola Valley are needed to better assess potential impact on ecosystems and human health.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Volcanogenic Inorganic Mercury in Wild Mice Spinal Cord: Potential Health Implications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Navarro-Sempere ◽  
M. García ◽  
A. S. Rodrigues ◽  
P. V. Garcia ◽  
R. Camarinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Wild Mice ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Lumbar Level ◽  
Quantification Analysis ◽  
Spinal Cord Potential ◽  
Cord Potential

AbstractMercury accumulation has been proposed as a toxic factor that causes neurodegenerative diseases. However, the hazardous health effects of gaseous elemental mercury exposure on the spinal cord in volcanic areas have not been reported previously in the literature. To evaluate the presence of volcanogenic inorganic mercury in the spinal cord, a study was carried out in São Miguel island (Azores, Portugal) by comparing the spinal cord of mice exposed chronically to an active volcanic environment (Furnas village) with individuals not exposed (Rabo de Peixe village), through the autometallographic silver enhancement histochemical method. Moreover, a morphometric and quantification analysis of the axons was carried out. Results exhibited mercury deposits at the lumbar level of the spinal cord in the specimens captured at the site with volcanic activity (Furnas village). A decrease in axon calibre and axonal atrophy was also observed in these specimens. Given that these are relevant hallmarks in the neurodegenerative pathologies, our results highlight the importance of the surveillance of the health of populations chronically exposed to active volcanic environments.

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