Atmospheric mercury deposition to grass in southern Sweden

This paper summarises the results of a 5-year investigation (1990-1994) using artificially planted rye grass in open ground as a biological monitor for air-borne mercury (Hg) in the south of Sweden. The total Hg deposition was estimated to be 14 ng m(-2) h(-1), of which about 70% was estimated from dry deposition on the grass surface, during the growing seasons from May to October. Hg content in grass leaves decreased from 0.076 (1990) to 0.041 mu g g(-1) (1994) with a rate of about 10% per year, which reflects the reduced trend of Hg deposition over this area. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.