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Spatial and temporal distribution of gaseous elemental mercury in Chongqing, China

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 156, Article number: 479 (2009) Cite this article

Abstract

In order to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric mercury (Hg) in Chongqing, China, gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) was measured from August 2006 to September 2007, using Lumex® multifunctional mercury analyzer RA-915+ (Lumex Ltd., Russia). The mean GEM concentration was 6.74 ± 0.37 ng m−3 in Chongqing, much higher than the accepted global background values (1.5–2 ng m−3). The GEM concentrations were different in different function areas. GEM in transport, industrial and commercial areas were 7.07 ± 1.04, 7.05 ± 0.96 and 6.71 ± 1.10 ng m−3, respectively, while GEM was 6.14 ± 1.30 and 4.32 ± 1.04 in the educational/recreational and nature conservation areas, suggesting that Hg emissions from mobile vehicles and industrial sources (specially coal combustion) were the most important contributors to atmospheric Hg in Chongqing. Mean Hg concentrations also had monthly variations with highest in November (8.24 ± 0.50 ng m−3) and lowest values in August (5.36 ± 0.70 ng m−3). Additionally, the diurnal variation of GEM concentrations was dependent on the local/regional atmospheric conditions. At Jinyun Mountain site (natural conservation area), hourly GEM concentrations had much higher values in daytime than at night. At Power Plant site, however, the hourly GEM concentrations were lower in daytime than at night. GEM concentrations in the air were correlated significantly with meteorological parameters except for barometric pressure.

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  1. College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, People’s Republic of China

    Yongkui Yang, Hong Chen & Dingyong Wang

  2. Chongqing Key Lab of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Chongqing, 400716, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Chen & Dingyong Wang

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  1. Yongkui Yang
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  2. Hong Chen
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Yang, Y., Chen, H. & Wang, D. Spatial and temporal distribution of gaseous elemental mercury in Chongqing, China. Environ Monit Assess 156, 479 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0499-8

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Keywords

  • Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM)
  • Atmospheric mercury
  • Variation
  • Distribution