Enhanced deposition and bioaccumulation of mercury in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems facing a coastal polynya

被引:76
作者
Bargagli, R [1 ]
Agnorelli, C [1 ]
Borghini, F [1 ]
Monaci, F [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Siena, Dipartimento Sci Ambientali, I-53100 Siena, Italy
关键词
D O I
10.1021/es0507315
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
Mercury emitted by anthropogenic and natural sources occurs in the atmosphere mostly in the gaseous elemental form, which has a long lifetime in tropical and temperate regions. Once deposited in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems the metal is partly re-emitted into the air, thus assuming the characteristics of global pollutants such as persistent volatile chemicals. In polar regions, during and after the sunrise, the photochemically driven oxidation of gaseous Hg by reactive halogens may result in areas of greatly enhanced Hg deposition. Mercury concentrations in soils, lichens, and mosses collected in a stretch between 74 degrees 30' S and 76 degrees 00' S, in ice-free coastal areas of Victoria Land facing the Terra Nova Bay coastal polynya, were higher than typical Antarctic baselines. The finding of enhanced Hg bioaccumulation in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems facing a coastal polynya strongly supports recent speculations on the role of ice crystals ("frost flowers") growing in polynyas as a dominant source of sea salt aerosols and bromine compounds, which are involved in springtime mercury depletion events (MDEs). These results raise concern about the possible environmental effects of changes in regional climate and sea ice coverage, and on the possible role of Antarctica as a sink in the mercury cycle.
引用
收藏
页码:8150 / 8155
页数:6
相关论文
共 36 条
[1]  
Adriano D., 2001, TRACE ELEMENTS TERRE
[2]  
AMAP, 2002, ARCT POLL 2002 PERS
[3]   The Arctic: a sink for mercury [J].
Ariya, PA ;
Dastoor, AP ;
Amyot, M ;
Schroeder, WH ;
Barrie, L ;
Anlauf, K ;
Raofie, F ;
Ryzhkov, A ;
Davignon, D ;
Lalonde, J ;
Steffen, A .
TELLUS SERIES B-CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL METEOROLOGY, 2004, 56 (05) :397-403
[4]   LICHEN BIOMONITORING OF MERCURY EMISSION AND DEPOSITION IN MINING, GEOTHERMAL AND VOLCANIC AREAS OF ITALY [J].
BARGAGLI, R ;
BARGHIGIANI, C .
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT, 1991, 16 (03) :265-275
[5]  
Bargagli R, 2001, REV ENVIRON CONTAM T, V171, P53
[6]   PRELIMINARY DATA ON ENVIRONMENTAL DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY IN NORTHERN VICTORIA LAND, ANTARCTICA [J].
BARGAGLI, R ;
BATTISTI, E ;
FOCARDI, S ;
FORMICHI, P .
ANTARCTIC SCIENCE, 1993, 5 (01) :3-8
[7]   Baseline concentrations of elements in the Antarctic macrolichen Umbilicaria decussata [J].
Bargagli, R ;
Sanchez-Hernandez, JC ;
Monaci, F .
CHEMOSPHERE, 1999, 38 (03) :475-487
[8]   Mosses and lichens as biomonitors of trace metals.: A comparison study on Hypnum cupressiforme and Parmelia caperata in a former mining district in Italy [J].
Bargagli, R ;
Monaci, F ;
Borghini, F ;
Bravi, F ;
Agnorelli, C .
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, 2002, 116 (02) :279-287
[9]  
Bargagli Roberto., 2005, Antarctic Ecosystems
[10]  
BROMWICH DH, 1989, MON WEATHER REV, V117, P688, DOI 10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<0688:AEKWRA>2.0.CO