Abstract
Whether from natural or anthropogenic sources, geothermal gas emissions have only been critically characterized in terms of Occupational Safety and Ambient Air Quality standards. Nevertheless, the sense of “toxic,” is commonly extended to all biota. The association of malodorous gases with blast, heat and mechanical impacts reinforces the image of a harsh chemistry as a principal actor in volcanic devastation. There is no argument as to whether or not Hg, H2S, S02 and H2S04 can be toxic, given the appropriate circumstances, but each of these substances can also stimulate plant growth. Aside from the often catastrophic physical events associated with volcanic eruptions, geothermally active regions commonly release one, several or all of the above gases, more or less continuously. At Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, vigorous native forests exist over an area of at least 25 000 ha around a caldera that produces 100–200 tons of S02 daily and ca 200 tons of Hg annually, together with H2S and a rainfall that reaches pH 2.9. Around Rotorua, New Zealand, pastures, gardens, parks, forests, and a major wildlife refuge exist in atmospheric H2S which ranges from 100 to 4000 parts per billion more or less continuously. From these and other examples, we seek to develop a more realistic picture of the phytotoxicology of natural geothermal emissions.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Gerstner, J. and Huff, J.: 1977, ‘Environmental Mercury Standards and Human Toxicity’, J. Toxicology and Env. Health 2, 491–501.
Harlan, R.: 1835, Medical and Physical Researches. Lydia Bailey, Philadelphia, p. 428.
Huser, J.: 1589, Paracelsus, Opera Omnia, Basel, p. 305.
LeBlanc, F. and Rao, D.: 1975, ‘Effects of Air Pollutants on Lichens and Bryophytes’, in Mudd, J. and Kozlowski, T. (eds.), Responses of Plants to Air Pollution. Academic Press, New York, pp. 237–261.
Mueller-Dombois, D. and Fosberg, R.: 1974, ‘Vegetation Map of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit. Technical Report No. 4. National Park Service, Dept. of Interior, p. 44.
Nieboer, E., Richardson, D., Puckett, K. and. Tomassini, F.: 1976, in Mansfield, T. (ed.), Effects of Air Pollutants on Plants. Soc. Expt. Biol. Seminar I, Cambridge Univ. Press, London, pp. 61–86.
Russell, C.: 1982, The Effects of Acid Environments on Metabolic Gas Exchange in Usnea australis. Master of Science Thesis in Botanical Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, p. 131.
Siegel, B. and Siegel, S.: 1978, ‘Mercury Emission in Hawaii: Aerometric Study of the Kalalua Eruption of 1977’, Env. Sci. Tech. 1036–1039.
Siegel, B. and Siegel, S.: 1979, ‘Biological Indicators of Atmospheric Mercury’, in Nriagu, J. (ed.), Biochemistry of Mercury. Elsevier/North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp. 131–158.
Siegel, B. and Siegel, S.: 1986, ‘Hawaiian Volcanoes and the Biogeology of Mercury’, USGS Professional Paper. In Press.
Siegel, B., Lasconia, M., and Yaeger, E.: 1984, ‘The Phytotoxicity of Mercury’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 23, 15–24.
Siegel, S. and Siegel, B.: 1980, in Siegel, B. (ed.), ‘Hawaii Energy Resource Overviews: Volume 4’. Impact of Geothermal Resource Development in Hawaii. UCRL-15535-V.4. NTIS DE830 12947, p. 168.
Siegel, S. and Siegel, B.: 1984, ‘First Estimate of Annual Mercury Flux at the Kilauea Main Ven’ Nature 309, 146–147.
Siegel, S., Penny, P., Siegel, B., and Penny, D.: 1986, ‘Atmospheric Hydrogen Sulfide Levels at the Sulphur Bay Wildlife Area, Lake Rotorua, New Zealand’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 28, 385–392.
Siegel, S., Seigel, B., Eshleman, A., and Bachman, K.: 1973, ‘Geothermal Sources and Distribution of Mercury in Hawaii’, Env. Biol. Med. 2, 81–89.
Smathers, G. and Mueller-Dombois, D.: 1974, Invasion and Recovery of Vegetation after a Volcanic Eruption in Hawaii. National Park Service Monograph Series No. 5. National Park Service, Washington, p. 129.
Stopinski, O.: 1978, Hydrogen Sulfide. EPA 600/1–78–018.
Thompson, C. and Kats, G.: 1978, ‘Effects of Continuous H2S Fumigation on Crop and Forest Plants’, Env. Sci. Tech. 12, 35–38.
Thompson, C., Kats, G., and Lennox, R.: 1980, ‘Effects of S02 and/or Na2 on Native Plants of the Mojave Desert and Eastern Mojave-Colorado Desert’, Env. Sci. Tech. 30, 1304–1307.
U.S. Department of Health, Education and WElfare: 1970, Air Quality Criteria for Sulfur Oxides. Air Pollut. Control Admin. Public No. AP-50. USGPO. Washington, p. 120.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: 1971, National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards. Fed. Reg. 36, No. 84, Part II.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: 1977, The Clean Air Act (Amended)’. USEPA, Washington, p. 129.
Varekamp, J. and Buseck, P.: 1981, ‘Mercury Emissions from Mount St. Helens during September 1980’, Nature 293, 555–556.
World Health Organization: 1981, ‘Environmental Health Criteria’, No. 19, Hydrogen Sulfide. WHO, Geneva.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1988 D. Reidel Publishing Company
About this paper
Cite this paper
Siegel, B.Z., Siegel, S.M., Nachbar-Hapai, M., Russell, C. (1988). Geotoxicology: Are Thermal Mercury and Sulfur Emissions Hazardous to Health?. In: El-Sabh, M.I., Murty, T.S. (eds) Natural and Man-Made Hazards. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1433-9_39
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1433-9_39
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7142-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1433-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive