In aquatic environment, mercury (Hg) is taken up by biota such as fish, in the organic form of methyl-mercury (MeHg) and may become available to humans. This study focuses on the distribution and transport of Hg in the Paglia River ecosystem, located downstream from the abandoned Abbadia San Salvatore mine (ASSM). The ASSM is part of the Monte Amiata district (Southern Tuscany, Italy), one of the world’s largest Hg districts. Total Hg (THg) and MeHg were determined in stream sediment and mine waste calcine samples collected from the Paglia River ecosystem. Downstream transport of Hg from mined areas is the dominant source of Hg to this ecosystem. Two fish species, roach (Chondrostoma genei) and barbel (Barbus plebejus), were also collected from the Paglia River and analysed for THg in order to evaluate transference of Hg to biota. Data indicate that THg concentrations of stream sediment samples collected downstream the Abbadia mine are high, often exceeding the probable effect concentration (PEC) for Hg of 1.06 μg/g. Calcine samples contain THg concentrations as high as 1,500 μg/g. Elevated concentrations of MeHg in mine waste calcine and stream sediment samples indicate active methylation of Hg. Concentrations of Hg in fish are high, although additional data are needed to fully understand its distribution in biota of the Paglia River ecosystem.
Mercury diffusion and distribution in the Hg mining district of Monte Amiata (Southern Tuscany, Italy) / Rimondi V.; Costagliola P.; Gray J.E.; Benvenuti M.; Di Benedetto F.; Lattanzi P.; Vaselli O.. - ELETTRONICO. - S13_118:(2011), pp. 0-0. (Intervento presentato al convegno 11th International Conference of the biogeochemistry of trace elements tenutosi a Firenze nel 3-8 luglio 2011).
Mercury diffusion and distribution in the Hg mining district of Monte Amiata (Southern Tuscany, Italy)
RIMONDI, VALENTINA;COSTAGLIOLA, PILARIO;BENVENUTI, MARCO;DI BENEDETTO, FRANCESCO;VASELLI, ORLANDO
2011
Abstract
In aquatic environment, mercury (Hg) is taken up by biota such as fish, in the organic form of methyl-mercury (MeHg) and may become available to humans. This study focuses on the distribution and transport of Hg in the Paglia River ecosystem, located downstream from the abandoned Abbadia San Salvatore mine (ASSM). The ASSM is part of the Monte Amiata district (Southern Tuscany, Italy), one of the world’s largest Hg districts. Total Hg (THg) and MeHg were determined in stream sediment and mine waste calcine samples collected from the Paglia River ecosystem. Downstream transport of Hg from mined areas is the dominant source of Hg to this ecosystem. Two fish species, roach (Chondrostoma genei) and barbel (Barbus plebejus), were also collected from the Paglia River and analysed for THg in order to evaluate transference of Hg to biota. Data indicate that THg concentrations of stream sediment samples collected downstream the Abbadia mine are high, often exceeding the probable effect concentration (PEC) for Hg of 1.06 μg/g. Calcine samples contain THg concentrations as high as 1,500 μg/g. Elevated concentrations of MeHg in mine waste calcine and stream sediment samples indicate active methylation of Hg. Concentrations of Hg in fish are high, although additional data are needed to fully understand its distribution in biota of the Paglia River ecosystem.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
ICOBTE2011b.pdf
Accesso chiuso
Tipologia:
Versione finale referata (Postprint, Accepted manuscript)
Licenza:
Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione
26.34 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
26.34 kB | Adobe PDF | Richiedi una copia |
I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.