Inhalation Exposure to Gaseous and Particulate Bound Mercury Present in the Ambient Air over the Polluted Area of Southern Poland

Abstract

This study concerns the concentrations of gaseous and particle-bound mercury present in ambient air of two Polish sites, differing in terms of emission structure, and the estimation of inhalation risks related to those Hg species. The measurements of total gaseous mercury (TGM) and PM2.5-bound mercury (PBM) were performed at an urban station in Zabrze and a rural station in Złoty Potok, in 2014–2015. Both sites are located in Silesia, considered one of the European air pollution hot-spots. TGM was measured on-line (Tekran 2537). PM2.5 samples were taken with the use of low volume samplers. Hg contents in PM were determined by the CVAAS method following thermal decomposition. The median concentrations of TGM and PBM in Zabrze were 2.48 ng m−3 and 37.87 pg m−3, respectively; meanwhile in Zloty Potok, these were 1.69 ng m−3 and 27.82 pg m−3, respectively. Clearly, seasonal variability of TGM and PBM concentrations were observed, reflecting the importance of Hg and PM emissions from coal combustion for power and heating purposes. Health risk assessment was performed using a deterministic approach by the most conservative exposure scenario. The obtained HQ ratios and the cumulative HI indexes were below the limit value (<1). This means an unlikely health hazard due mercury inhalation.

Status and trends of mercury pollution of the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems in Poland

“…A similar trend was also observed for the total particulate mercury (TPM). In northern Poland, the TPM concentrations (Korejwo et al 2020 ) were similar to those measured in the Swedish coastal zone (around 10 pg m −3 ) (Wängberg et al 2001 ), while in southern Poland Hg concentration in the particulate matter oscillated around 30 pg m −3 (Pyta et al 2020 ). TGM can be oxidised to Hg 2+ , which is much more reactive, hence it is removed from the atmosphere with dry and wet deposition.…”

Influence of Spring Dust Storm on Atmospheric Particulate-Bound Mercury in a Typical Inland City of Northern China: Characteristics, Sources, and Risk Assessment

“…This indicates that there are high emission sources of mercury pollution in Southeast Asia. Compared with the atmospheric PBM concentrations observed in the Northern America and Europe regions [40][41][42][43], the PBM levels in Xi'an are high, suggesting that China and other regions in Asia are significantly affected by anthropogenic mercury emissions. The PBM/PM 2.5 mass ratio in Xi'an in March ranged from 247.56 ng g −1 to 1493.69 ng g −1 , with a mean of 655.05 ng g −1 , which was higher than the Hg background values in the area which is the source of sand in northwest China (0.01 mg kg −1 ) and the background values of Hg in the soil of the Shaanxi province (0.03 mg kg −1 ).…”

Prediction of inhalation health risk of mercury emissions from stacks of cement plant employing coal as an alternative fuel

“…The mean of TGM concentrations in Zabrze was lower than for Chinese cities, like those found in Seoul (South Korea), 2012-2013, and higher than reported by Mao and coauthors for urban sites in Europe, North America, and Asia (median 2.1 ng.m -3 ). (Pyta, 2020) The median and mean of hazard quotients (HQ) and indices (HI) for TGM (total gaseous mercury) and PBM (particulate bounded mercury) concentrations was as follow:…”

“…HI in this location was 0.02543. (Pyta, 2020) This all considered with and the proposal of revised EPA's reference concentration (RfCR) = 0.07µg/m 3 .…”