Scheda di dettaglio – i prodotti della ricerca
| Dato | Valore |
|---|---|
| Title | An integrated investigation of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury transport and dispersion around a chlor-alkali plant in the ossola valley (Italian central alps) |
| Abstract | 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 port-able 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) 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 at sampling sites located north of the chlor-alkali plant to 624 ng g 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. |
| Source | Toxics 9 (7) |
| Keywords | Atmospheric gaseous elemental mercuryBiomonitoringContinuous Hg measurementsLichensMercury atmospheric sourcesOssola Valley |
| Journal | Toxics |
| Editor | MDPI, Basel, Svizzera |
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.3390/toxics9070172 |
| Authors | Fantozzi, Laura; Guerrieri, Nicoletta; Manca, Giovanni; Orrù, Arianna; Marziali, Laura |
| Text | 461423 2021 10.3390/toxics9070172 Scopus 2 s2.0 85111396984 Atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury Biomonitoring Continuous Hg measurements Lichens Mercury atmospheric sources Ossola Valley An integrated investigation of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury transport and dispersion around a chlor alkali plant in the ossola valley Italian central alps Fantozzi, Laura; Guerrieri, Nicoletta; Manca, Giovanni; Orru, Arianna; Marziali, Laura Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Italy; European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy; 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 port able 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 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 at sampling sites located north of the chlor alkali plant to 624 ng g 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. 9 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85111396984 origin=inward Articolo in rivista MDPI 2305 6304 Toxics Toxics Toxics laura.fantozzi FANTOZZI LAURA nicoletta.guerrieri GUERRIERI NICOLETTA laura.marziali MARZIALI LAURA arianna.orru ORRU ARIANNA |