The general objective of this project is to establish a functional, quantitative method for assessing Hg0 concentrations in the gas phase and, by proxy, Hg0 outgassing from aquifers, soils, and peatlands using MerPAS (Hg0 passive air sampler, developed by David McLagan and researchers at the University of Toronto) deployed in groundwater wells and in buried sampling containers in soils and peat, respectively.
While the majority of human and environmental health issues from Hg are related to the highly toxic methyl-Hg (MeHg), the oxidation state, specific compound distribution, and reaction mechanisms in different environmental media as well as the long-range transport potential of these different compounds of Hg are fundamental in controlling the production and distribution of MeHg in the environment.
The primary purpose of EMOSGROW is to develop and implement a quantitative method to monitor gaseous Hg0 concentrations in subterranean compartments via subsurface deployments of the versatile MerPAS and use these data generate estimates of Hg0 outgassing and Hg2+ reduction potential across three spatial dimensions. These data will be complimented by above ground MerPAS measurements of Hg0 concentrations and combined will improve the determination of Hg0 fluxes from and within soil-groundwater systems. Understanding these fluxes has relevance from a human and environmental health perspective due to the potential for the emitted Hg0 to undergo long-range transport, deposition, methylation to highly toxic MeHg, and be taken up aquatic food webs.
Projektbeteiligte: Dr. David McLagan, Prof. Dr. Harald Biester, Dr. Caiyan Feng
Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) unter Projektnummer 495149255 .