EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MERCURY LEVELS AFTER THE 1989 ERUPTION OF MT ETNA (SICILY)

Mercury measurements in atmospheric, vegetation and soil samples from Mt. Etna (Sicily) after the major eruption of October 1989 are reported. For air mercury collection gold amalgamators arranged in series were used and the interference of atmospheric substances with the Au-Hg amalgam was considered. The results show that substances released into the atmosphere during the volcanic activity interfered with air Hg determination. The evaluation of Hg impact on the environment by means of soil and vegetation analyses was also made difficult by phenomena peculiar to the volcanic activity. However, all the environmental abiotic and biotic components studied showed low Hg concentrations, even if the eruption of 1989 probably determined a temporary enhancement of the air mercury levels.