Long-Term Variation Characteristics and Health Risks of Atmospheric Hg in the Largest City in Northwestern China

Overview

Journal Toxics

Date 2025 Jan 8

PMID 39771150

Authors

Yuqi Pang

Hongmei Xu

Mengyun Yang

Bin Zhang

Liyan Liu

Sulin Chen

Jing Xue

Hui Zhang

Zhenxing Shen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In this study, gaseous element mercury (GEM) and gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) in the atmosphere were continuously observed at a minute resolution from 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2020 in urban Xi'an, the largest central city in Northwestern China. The concentrations of GEM and GOM drastically fluctuated within the ranges of 0.022-297 ng/m and 0.092-381 pg/m, showing average values of 5.78 ± 7.36 ng/m and 14.2 ± 20.8 pg/m, respectively. GEM and GOM showed a decreasing trend of 0.121 ng/m and 0.472 pg/m per month, respectively, which we believe was mainly caused by anthropogenic sources, especially by a reduction in coal-fired emissions, rather than meteorological factors. The significant positive correlation between GEM and PM, SO, NO, and CO, as well as Cr, As, and Pb in PM also proves that. GEM showed a higher concentration at nighttime than daytime, while an M-shaped diurnal trend was observed for GOM. The hazard quotient of GEM for both males and females decreased at a rate of 0.003 per month, and children aged 2-5 were more sensitive to non-carcinogenic health risks. The changing trends, controlling factors, and human health risks of Hg in the atmosphere are necessary and crucial to study for improving our understanding of the impacts of Hg in Northwestern China.

References

Yin X, Zhou W, Kang S, de Foy B, Yu Y, Xie J . Latest observations of total gaseous mercury in a megacity (Lanzhou) in northwest China. Sci Total Environ. 2020; 720:137494. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137494. View

Gratz L, Keeler G, Marsik F, Barres J, Dvonch J . Atmospheric transport of speciated mercury across southern Lake Michigan: Influence from emission sources in the Chicago/Gary urban area. Sci Total Environ. 2012; 448:84-95. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.08.076. View

Xu H, Cao J, Chow J, Huang R, Shen Z, Chen L . Inter-annual variability of wintertime PM2.5 chemical composition in Xi'an, China: Evidences of changing source emissions. Sci Total Environ. 2016; 545-546:546-55. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.070. View

Feng X, Fu X, Zhang H, Wang X, Jia L, Zhang L . Combating air pollution significantly reduced air mercury concentrations in China. Natl Sci Rev. 2024; 11(9):nwae264. PMC: 11362986. DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae264. View

Singh S, Kumar V . Mercury detoxification by absorption, mercuric ion reductase, and exopolysaccharides: a comprehensive study. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019; 27(22):27181-27201. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04974-w. View

Driscoll C, Mason R, Chan H, Jacob D, Pirrone N . Mercury as a global pollutant: sources, pathways, and effects. Environ Sci Technol. 2013; 47(10):4967-83. PMC: 3701261. DOI: 10.1021/es305071v. View

Rao M, Latha R, Nikhil K, Murthy B . Atmospheric gaseous mercury and associated health risk assessment in the economic capital of India. Environ Monit Assess. 2024; 196(6):519. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12679-y. View

Edwards B, Kushner D, Outridge P, Wang F . Fifty years of volcanic mercury emission research: Knowledge gaps and future directions. Sci Total Environ. 2020; 757:143800. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143800. View

Park J, Zheng W . Human exposure and health effects of inorganic and elemental mercury. J Prev Med Public Health. 2012; 45(6):344-52. PMC: 3514464. DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.6.344. View

10.

Yawei S, JianHai L, Junxiu Z, Xiaobo P, Zewu Q . Epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and follow-up of chronic mercury poisoning in China: a retrospective analysis. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2021; 22(1):25. PMC: 8091676. DOI: 10.1186/s40360-021-00493-y. View

11.

Zhao Y, Mann M, Olson E, Pavlish J, Dunham G . Effects of sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide on mercury oxidation and reduction under homogeneous conditions. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2006; 56(5):628-35. DOI: 10.1080/10473289.2006.10464483. View

12.

Sherman L, Blum J, Keeler G, Demers J, Dvonch J . Investigation of local mercury deposition from a coal-fired power plant using mercury isotopes. Environ Sci Technol. 2011; 46(1):382-90. DOI: 10.1021/es202793c. View

13.

Mor S, Vig N, Ravindra K . Distribution of heavy metals in surface soil near a coal power production unit: potential risk to ecology and human health. Environ Monit Assess. 2022; 194(4):263. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09692-w. View

14.

Ariya P, Amyot M, Dastoor A, Deeds D, Feinberg A, Kos G . Mercury physicochemical and biogeochemical transformation in the atmosphere and at atmospheric interfaces: a review and future directions. Chem Rev. 2015; 115(10):3760-802. DOI: 10.1021/cr500667e. View

15.

Lu R, Wu Y, Zhang X, Shen Y, Wu F, Xue Y . [Distribution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Atmospheric Mercury Speciation in Suzhou]. Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2020; 41(7):3102-3111. DOI: 10.13227/j.hjkx.201910076. View

16.

Liu J, Wang L, Zhu Y, Lin C, Jang C, Wang S . Source Attribution for Mercury Deposition with an Updated Atmospheric Mercury Emission Inventory in the Pearl River Delta Region, China. Front Environ Sci Eng. 2021; 13(1). PMC: 7970520. DOI: 10.1007/s11783-019-1087-6. View

17.

Xu L, Chen J, Yang L, Niu Z, Tong L, Yin L . Characteristics and sources of atmospheric mercury speciation in a coastal city, Xiamen, China. Chemosphere. 2014; 119:530-539. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.07.024. View

18.

Chow J, Watson J, Chen L, Chang M, Robinson N, Trimble D . The IMPROVE_A temperature protocol for thermal/optical carbon analysis: maintaining consistency with a long-term database. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2007; 57(9):1014-23. DOI: 10.3155/1047-3289.57.9.1014. View

19.

Liu K, Wu Q, Wang S, Chang X, Tang Y, Wang L . Improved atmospheric mercury simulation using updated gas-particle partition and organic aerosol concentrations. J Environ Sci (China). 2022; 119:106-118. DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.04.007. View

20.

Choi H, Huang J, Mondal S, Holsen T . Variation in concentrations of three mercury (Hg) forms at a rural and a suburban site in New York State. Sci Total Environ. 2012; 448:96-106. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.08.052. View