Estimates of mercury flux and temporal variability of Hg/SO2 ratio in the plume of Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico)

Schiavo, Benedetto; Mortón-Bermea, Ofelia; Salgado-Martínez, Elías; Arellano, Josué; Hernández-Álvarez, Elizabeth

doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102614

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…GEM data registered at a fixed location 11 km from the crater showed maximum values of around 5 ng m −3 during periods of high volcanic activity. Furthermore, in a later study which covered a total distance of 129 km around the volcano, Schiavo et al (2020b) report that most registered GEM concentrations are between 2.2 and 3.3 ng m −3 , which corresponds to the typical background values estimated in the area. These measurements were taken at 7-18 km from the crater in inhabited areas.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…Rutter et al (2009) consider the emissions from the Popocatépetl volcano to be a possible source responsible for the increase of GEM in the southern part of the MCMA and suggest the need to quantify its impact. Recently, Schiavo et al (2020a) reported an estimate of Popocatépetl Hg flux during a particularly explosive phase of the volcano. GEM data registered at a fixed location 11 km from the crater showed maximum values of around 5 ng m −3 during periods of high volcanic activity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Gaseous Elemental Mercury (GEM) in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area

Mortón-Bermea

Schiavo

Salgado-Martínez

et al. 2021

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) data recorded during two short-term monitoring surveys in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) at 12th May 2019 and at 22nd May 2020, during conditions of low and high human activity respectively. Results, although they are limited, can be considered as the representative range of exposure to GEM of the inhabitants of MCMA; differences in results reveal the impact of human activities on GEM background levels (2.53 and 3.76 ng m −3 , respectively). GEM concentrations and their spatial distribution does not allow for the identification of important industrial sources and do not reach intervention pollution levels. The activity of the Popocatépetl volcano is not likely to have an effect on GEM in the MCMA. In spite the evident decrease in GEM concentrations compared with data previously reported, monitoring must be carried out routinely given Mexico's participation in the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gaseous Elemental Mercury (GEM) in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area

Mortón-Bermea

Schiavo

Salgado-Martínez

et al. 2021

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…4 ). Three different locations, the Miguel Hidalgo refinery, Apaxco, and Popocatépetl volcano, were added as potential GEM source contributors: (i) the Miguel Hidalgo refinery is an important industrial corridor and petroleum refinery in Central Mexico, and it has the ability to process 3 × 10 5 barrels of crude material per day and the objective of supplying Mexico City with refined gasoline (Sosa et al, 2013 ); (ii) the Apaxco area, also called a “sacrifice zone” for the local community, is an industrial corridor with cement, waste coprocessing, and thermoelectric plants, as well as refineries and agrochemical factories; and (iii) the Popocatépetl volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and a large emitter of GEM into the atmosphere (Schiavo et al, 2020a ). The results of simulation modeling on May 8 and 9 showed that the central and northern areas of Mexico City were influenced by air mass dispersion coming from the Tula and Apaxco industrial corridors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…GEM concentrations are influenced by emissions from heavy traffic, asphalt plants, and the cement industry. Under certain environmental conditions, emissions from industrial complexes, e.g., Tula-Tepeji (Retama et al, 2019 ) and Apaxco, and the plume of the Popocatépetl volcano (Schiavo et al, 2020a ), located 60 km north-northwest and 70 km southeast of Mexico City, respectively, affected the atmospheric urban environment and contributed to air pollution.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hg can remain in the atmosphere for a long time (0.5 to 2 years) and can be transported over long distances away from sources (Gworek et al, 2017 ; Lyman et al, 2020 ; Schroeder & Munthe, 1998 ). Input of atmospheric Hg from natural sources includes volcanic emissions (Schiavo et al, 2020a ; Edwards et al, 2021 ), and anthropogenic release mainly comes from coal-fired power plants, fossil fuel combustion, and artisanal gold mining (Pirrone et al, 2010 ; Sprovieri et al, 2010 ). Thus, potential exposure to Hg may affect the world’s population and ecosystems, even in remote areas, e.g., Arctic and Antarctic regions (Angot et al, 2016 ; Bargagli, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Health risk assessment of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) in Mexico City

Schiavo

Mortón-Bermea

Salgado-Martínez

et al. 2022

Environ Monit Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM or Hg 0 ) from different sources in urban areas are important subjects for environmental investigations. In this study, atmospheric Hg measurements were conducted to investigate air pollution in the urban environment by carrying out several mobile surveys in Mexico City. This work presents atmospheric concentrations of GEM in terms of diurnal variation trends and comparisons with criteria for pollutant concentrations such as CO, SO 2 , NO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 . The concentration of GEM was measured during the pre-rainy period by using a high-resolution active air sampler, the Lumex RA 915 M mercury analyzer. In comparison with those for other cities worldwide, the GEM concentrations were similar or slightly elevated, and they ranged from 0.20 to 30.23 ng m −3 . However, the GEM concentration was significantly lower than those in contaminated areas, such as fluorescent lamp factory locations and gold mining zones. The GEM concentrations recorded in Mexico City did not exceed the WHO atmospheric limit of 200 ng m −3 . We performed statistical correlation analysis which suggests equivalent sources between Hg and other atmospheric pollutants, mainly NO 2 and SO 2 , emitted from urban combustion and industrial plants. The atmospheric Hg emissions are basically controlled by sunlight radiation, as well as having a direct relationship with meteorological parameters. The area of the city studied herein is characterized by high traffic density, cement production, and municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment, which constantly release GEM into the atmosphere. In this study, we included the simulation with the HYSPLIT dispersion model from three potential areas of GEM release. Emissions from industrial corridors and volcanic plumes localized outside the urban area contribute to the pollution of Mexico City and mainly affect the northern area during specific periods and climate conditions. Using the USEPA model, we assessed the human health risk resulting from exposure to inhaled GEM among residents of Mexico City. The results of the health risk assessment indicated no significant noncarcinogenic risk (hazard quotient (HQ) < 1) or consequent adverse effects for children and adults living in the sampling area over the study period. GEM emissions inventory data is necessary to improve our knowledge about the Hg contribution and effect in urban megacity areas with the objective to develop public safe policy and implementing the Minamata Convention. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10661-022-10107-7.

show abstract