| Title | Study on the reduction of atmospheric mercury emissions from mine waste enriched soils through native grass cover in the Mt. Amiata region of Italy |
| Abstract | Atmospheric mercury emissions from mine-waste enriched soils were measured in order to compare the mercury fluxes of bare soils with those from other soils covered by native grasses. Our research was conducted near Mt. Amiata in central Italy, an area that was one of the largest and most productive mining centers in Europe up into the 1980s. To determine in situ mercury emissions, we used a Plexiglas flux chamber connected to a portable mercury analyzer (Lumex RA-915+). This allowed us to detect, in real time, the mercury vapor in the air, and to correlate this with the meteorological parameters that we examined (solar radiation, soil temperature, and humidity). The highest mercury flux values (8000ngmh) were observed on bare soils during the hours of maximum insulation, while lower values (250ngmh) were observed on soils covered by native grasses. Our results indicate that two main environmental variables affect mercury emission: solar radiation intensity and soil temperature. The presence of native vegetation, which can shield soil surfaces from incident light, reduced mercury emissions, a result that we attribute to a drop in the efficiency of mercury photoreduction processes rather than to decreases in soil temperature. This finding is consistent with decreases in mercury flux values down to 3500ngmh, which occurred under cloudy conditions despite high soil temperatures. Moreover, when the soil temperature was 28°C and the vegetation was removed from the experimental site, mercury emissions increased almost four-fold. This increase occurred almost immediately after the grasses were cut, and was approximately eight-fold after 20h. Thus, this study demonstrates that enhancing wild vegetation cover could be an inexpensive and effective approach in fostering a natural, self-renewing reduction of mercury emissions from mercury-contaminated soils. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. |
| Source | Environmental research (N. Y. N. Y., Print) 125, pp. 69–74 |
| Keywords | Mercury emissionsMercury-enriched soilNative-grass cover |
| Journal | Environmental research (N. Y. N. Y., Print) |
| Editor | Elsevier., Amsterdam,, Stati Uniti d'America |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.envres.2013.02.004 |
| Authors | Fantozzi, L.; Ferrara, R.; Dini, F.; Tamburello, L.; Pirrone, N.; Sprovieri, F. |
| Text | 441066 2013 10.1016/j.envres.2013.02.004 Scopus 2 s2.0 84881551469 Mercury emissions Mercury enriched soil Native grass cover Study on the reduction of atmospheric mercury emissions from mine waste enriched soils through native grass cover in the Mt. Amiata region of Italy Fantozzi, L.; Ferrara, R.; Dini, F.; Tamburello, L.; Pirrone, N.; Sprovieri, F. CNR Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rende; Universita di Pisa; Istituto Di Biofisica, Pisa Atmospheric mercury emissions from mine waste enriched soils were measured in order to compare the mercury fluxes of bare soils with those from other soils covered by native grasses. Our research was conducted near Mt. Amiata in central Italy, an area that was one of the largest and most productive mining centers in Europe up into the 1980s. To determine in situ mercury emissions, we used a Plexiglas flux chamber connected to a portable mercury analyzer Lumex RA 915 . This allowed us to detect, in real time, the mercury vapor in the air, and to correlate this with the meteorological parameters that we examined solar radiation, soil temperature, and humidity . The highest mercury flux values 8000ngmh were observed on bare soils during the hours of maximum insulation, while lower values 250ngmh were observed on soils covered by native grasses. Our results indicate that two main environmental variables affect mercury emission solar radiation intensity and soil temperature. The presence of native vegetation, which can shield soil surfaces from incident light, reduced mercury emissions, a result that we attribute to a drop in the efficiency of mercury photoreduction processes rather than to decreases in soil temperature. This finding is consistent with decreases in mercury flux values down to 3500ngmh, which occurred under cloudy conditions despite high soil temperatures. Moreover, when the soil temperature was 28°C and the vegetation was removed from the experimental site, mercury emissions increased almost four fold. This increase occurred almost immediately after the grasses were cut, and was approximately eight fold after 20h. Thus, this study demonstrates that enhancing wild vegetation cover could be an inexpensive and effective approach in fostering a natural, self renewing reduction of mercury emissions from mercury contaminated soils. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. 125 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 84881551469 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Elsevier. 0013 9351 Environmental research N. Y. N. Y., Print Environmental research N. Y. N. Y., Print Environ. res. N. Y. N. Y., Print Environmental research. N. Y. N. Y., Print Environmental research. N. Y. N. Y., Print Section A N. Y. N. Y., Print nicola.pirrone PIRRONE NICOLA FERRARA ROMANO francesca.sprovieri SPROVIERI FRANCESCA laura.fantozzi FANTOZZI LAURA TA.P02.023.007 Ciclo degli inquinanti a diverse scale spaziali e nelle aree polari |
