Mercury in soil

Mercury in soil is not only likely to have a different potential for evasion and methylation than Hg in runoff, but soil Hg may be perturbed by land disturbance. Land disturbances that are particularly relevant to Hg cycling include the formation of wetlands and flooding of reservoirs (Rudd 1995 see Chapter 3). Disturbances such as clear-cutting can also result in marked increases in the release of THg and MeHg from soils (Munthe and Hultbeig 2003 Porvari et al. 2003). Fire can result in large Hg losses by volatilization (Grigal 2002). 

Kimura and Miller [29] have described a procedure for the determination of organomercury (methylmercury, ethylmercury and phenylmercury compounds) and inorganic mercury in soil. In this method the sample is digested in a steam bath with sulphuric acid (0.9M) containing hydroxy ammonium sulphate, sodium chloride and, if high concentrations of organic matter are present, potassium dichromate solution. Then, 50% hydrogen... 

Total mercury is determined in soils containing phenylmercury acetate and or ethylmercury acetate using the method described by Polley and Miller [31]. Total mercury is determined in soils containing methylmercury chloride and methylmercury dicyanamide by the method described by Kimura and Miller [32], Kimura and Miller [30] present chemical data on the nature of residual mercurials in soil and in the atmosphere surrounding the treated soil to further elucidate the phenomena of degradation in soil. 

Longbottom et al. [40] have described gas chromatographic methods for the determination of alkyl mercury in soils and sediments. 

Barringer, J.L., Szabo, Z. and Barringer, T.H. (1998) Arsenic and mercury in soil, aquifer sediments, and ground water in the coastal plain of New Jersey. Abstracts with Programs. The Geological Society of America, 30(7), 58. 

Kamburova [134] has reported a spectrophotometric method based on the formation of the mercury-triphenyltetrazolium chloride complex for the determination of mercury in soils. 

Various atomic absorption spectrophotometric procedures have been described for the determination of mercury in soils. Methods based on attacking the mercury in soil samples with mineral acids and permanganate have been shown to give low mercury recoveries. In recent years methods based on decomposition of the sample by heating have gained favour in that they obviate any tendency to produce low results. 

Kuwae et al. [138] have described a rapid determination of mercury in soils by high-frequency induction heating (rf) followed by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The mercury released from the sample is absorbed in stannous chloride-hydroxylamine prior to atomic absorption spectrometry. Recovery of 99.4 to 99.8% mercury was obtained by this method from portions of sample containing between 0.025-0.15 p,g of mercury. 

Nicolson [139] has described a rapid thermal decomposition technique for the atomic absorption determination of mercury in soils. In this method, air is used to sweep mercury vapour from the heated (650-750 °C) sample onto gold foil. In the second stage, heating of the gold foil releases mercury vapour into a cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometer. 

Cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (253 nm emission) have been applied to the determination of down to 0.01 mg/kg of mercury in soils and sediments [ 144],... 

Sakamoto et al. [148] have shown that the differential determinations of different forms of mercury in soil can be accomplished by successive extraction and cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. 

Azzaria and Aftabi [ 149] showed that stepwise (as compared to continuous) heating of soil samples before determination of mercury by atomic absorption spectrometry gives increased resolution of the different phases of mercury. A gold-coated graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer has been used to determine mercury in soils [150]. 

A study by Rasemann et al. demonstrated to what extent mercury concentrations depend on the method of handling soil samples between sampling and chemical analysis for samples from a nonuniformly contaminated site [152], Sample pretreatment contributed substantially to the variance in results and was of the same order as the contribution from sample inhomogeneity. Welz et al. [153] and Baxter [154] have conducted speciation studies on mercury in soils. Lexa and Stulik [155] employed a gold film electrode modified by a film of tri-n-octylphosphinc oxide in a PVC matrix to determine mercury in soils. Concentrations of mercury as low as 0.02 ppm were determined. 

Voltammetric methods have been used to determine mercury in soil composts. The amount of mercury leaching from composts was very low [158]. Neutron activation analysis has been used to determine mercury in soil [159]. 

Easterling et al. [161] has reported a rapid field screening method for the determination of elemental mercury in soil. This method involves thermal desorption of the mercury onto gold, followed by thermal desorption from the gold film mercury analyser. 

Standing Committee of Analysts (DoE) (1979) The Analysis of Agricultural Materials -Mercury in Soil and Plant Material, Method 86, MAFF Technical Bulletin RB 427, Second Edition, HMSO, London, UK. 

Water extraction followed by derivatisation with sodium tetraethyl boron then solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used to determine down to 200 ng/1 of methyl mercury in soil [13]. 

Total mercury in soils can be measured by ICP-MS [330]. Mercury was extracted by using a microwave assisted flow injection system. A complexing agent and surfactant were added to eliminate the long memory effects typically observed with mercury. 

Table 12 Concentrations of mercury in soils and terrestrial sediments and estimates of the anthropogenic mercury...

Matilainen T., Verta M., Korhonen H., Uusi-Rauva A., and Niemi M. (2001) Behavior of mercury in soil profiles impact of increased precipitation, acidity, and fertilization on mercury methylation. Water Air Soil Pollut. 125, 105-119. 

Phelps, D.W. and Buseck, P.R., 1978. Mercury in soils as an indicator of geothermal activity Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. In J.R Watterson and P.K. Theobald (eds.), Geochemical Exploration 1978. Assoc Explor. Gcochem., Rcxdale, Ontario., pp. 153-160. 

The formation of HgS is significant for remediation efforts at the site because the toxicity, leachability, and volatility of mercury in soils are dependent on the solid phase speciation. Because local hydrogeochemical conditions are not unique, the formation of HgS at this site has implications to other environments and contaminated sites as well. 

AnderssonA. 1979. Mercury in soils. In NriaguJO, ed. The biogeochemistry of mercury in the environment. New York, NY Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, 79-112. 

Bandy opadhyay S, Das AK. 1989. Determination of mercury in soil by cold vapour AAS after its separation with Aliquat-336. J Indian Chem Soc 66(6) 427-428. 

Canady RA, Hanley JE, Susten AS. 1997. ATSDR science panel on the bioavailability of mercury in soils lessons learned. Risk Anal Oct 17 (5) 527-32. 

---