US EPA

3113405 

Journal Article 

Impact of mercury atmospheric deposition on soils and streams in a mountainous catchment (Vosges, France) polluted by chlor-alkali industrial activity: The important trapping role of the organic matter 

Hissler, C; Probst, JL 

2006 

1 

Science of the Total Environment
ISSN: 0048-9697
EISSN: 1879-1026 

Elsevier 

AMSTERDAM 

361 

1-3 

163-178 

English 

16168464 

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.05.023 

WOS:000238142500016 

Total atmospheric Hg contamination in a French mountainous catchment upstream from a chlor-alkali industrial site was assessed using Hg concentrations in the deepest soil horizon, in the stream bottom sediments, in river waters and in bryophytes. The natural background level of Hg content deriving from rock weathering was estimated to 32 ng g(-1) in the deepest soil layers. The soils appear to be Hg contaminated in two stages: atmospheric deposition and leaching through the soil profiles of Hg-organic matter complexes. The Hg enrichment factor (EFHgSc) which could be calculated by normalization to a conservative element like Sc, allows to estimate the major contribution (63% to 95%) of the atmospheric inputs, even in the upper part of the basin. This contribution may be attributed to diffuse regional atmospheric deposition of Hg and is mainly due to the geographic location of the chlor-alkali plant. This study shows for the first time that the mercury enrichment is proportional to the carbon content indicating that most of the atmospheric mercury deposition is trapped by the organic matter contained in the soils and in the stream sediments.



The Hg stock in the soils of the upper catchment and the soil erosion contribution to the riverine Hg fluxes are estimated for the first time and allow to assess the Hg residence time. It indicates that Hg is trapped in the soils of such a polluted catchment for probably several thousand years. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved. 

mercury; chlor-alkali plant; atmospheric deposition; soils stream sediments; bryophytes; organic carbon; background level; enrichment factor; mountainous catchment; Vosges France 

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT