US EPA

614159 

Journal Article 

Mercury Contamination of Soil as the Result of Long-Term Phosphate Fertilizer Production 

Mirlean, N; Baisch, P; Machado, I; Shumilin, E 

2008 

Yes 

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 

81 

3 

305-308 

English 

18587516 

10.1007/s00128-008-9480-z 

WOS:000258275700017 

This study was aimed at determining the range and spatial distribution of mercury in a geographical area influenced by the emissions of phosphate fertilizers industries in Rio Grande, Brazil. The case study demonstrated that mercury concentrations in a fine fraction of the surface soil close to the fertilizer factory reached levels as high as 800 μg kg^{−1}. Increased mercury concentrations were detected up to 60 cm below the soil surface. Further, a significant impact of the elevated mercury levels was manifested in a 1-km zone around the factory. Technical grade sulfuric acid employed in superphosphate production is considered the principal source of this mercury contamination. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR Copyright of Bulletin of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology is the property of Springer Science & Business Media B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts) 

MERCURY; PHOSPHATIC fertilizers; SOIL pollution; SUPERPHOSPHATES; RIO Grande (Brazil); BRAZIL; Fertilizer production; Soil contamination; Sulfuric acid