城市地表汞含量及释放通量影响因素分析

测定了长春市不同类型地表汞含量及其释放通量，分析了地表汞释放通量的影响因素。研究结果表明，不同地表土样的汞含量存在很大的差异；煤炭堆放地和沥青地地表汞含量较高，应引起足够的重视。地表汞释放通量受地表汞含量、地表类型、降水、太阳辐射等因素的影响。降水期间或降水后期地表汞释放通量明显增加。可见，地表汞释放是一个动态过程，随时间和空间而变化。     

云南疣柄牛肝菌属真菌中汞含量及食用健康风险分析

汞(Hg)对人类健康有明显的毒害作用,多数野生食用菌对Hg有很强的富集能力,测定野生食用菌中总Hg含量,并对其进行食用安全评估有重要意义。采用冷原子吸收光谱法测定云南常见疣柄牛肝菌属真菌菌盖、菌柄中总汞(Hg)含量,分析样品对Hg的富集特征;以FAO/WHO现行每周Hg允许摄入量(provisional tolerable weekly intake,PTWI)标准,评估疣柄牛肝菌属真菌的食用安全性。结果显示,不同产地、种类及不同采集时间疣柄牛肝菌属真菌的总Hg含量差异明显,菌盖中总Hg含量在0.54~4.80 mg·kg-1dw之间,菌柄总Hg含量在0.32~2.80 mg·kg~(-1)dw之间,同一种牛肝菌菌盖总Hg含量均大于菌柄(Q(C/S)1),表明疣柄牛肝菌属真菌对Hg的积累量与生长环境、种类、部位等有关。根据FAO/WHO暂行的每周Hg允许摄入量标准(0.004 mg·kg-1bw),成年人(60 kg)每周食用300 g(鲜重)采自云南的疣柄牛肝菌属真菌,Hg摄入量远低于PTWI标准,对人体Hg暴露风险较低。     

桂林市菜地土壤-蔬菜汞污染研究和评价

对桂林市近郊8个不同片区蔬菜产地的118个土壤样品和71个蔬菜样品中汞的含量水平进行了调查和分析。运用单因子污染指数法评价了菜地土壤一蔬菜中汞的污染现状。研究表明，桂林市及近郊菜地土壤和蔬菜已受到不同程度的汞污染，全市各片区菜地土壤汞含量平均值为0．098-0．523mg／kg，以国家土壤环境质量标准二级标准评价，土壤平均污染指数在0．33-1．74范围内，属非污染或轻污染状态，除穿山南片和纸马铺外，其余采样点均有样本超过国家二级标准，其中七星公园东北片的土壤汞超标率较高，达71．4％，污染情况比较均一；虞山桥东南岸土壤汞超标率较低，为33．3％，但土壤汞含量变异较大，说明污染情况变化大。全市各片区老菜的汞含量平均值为0．0625-0．128mg／kg，为国家标准GB2762—1994规定蔬菜汞含量(0．01mg／kg)的6．25—12．8倍，超标率已达100％。实验还发现，蔬菜中的汞含量与土壤中的汞含量具有显著的相关性，且蔬菜汞的大部分分布于地上部可食部分。分析了菜地土壤汞污染的主要原因，可能与使用含汞农药和生活垃圾肥有关。     

贵州万山汞矿地区耐汞野生植物研究

在贵州万山地区废弃汞矿堆和矿山附近,受长期高剂量汞暴露的影响经过的自然选择,该地区出现了一些能耐受汞毒性的生态型植物。对汞耐受及汞富集植物的筛选对于汞污染土壤的植物修复具有一定的现实意义。通过对万山梅子溪地区汞污染土壤及汞耐受植物采样调查发现,该区域采样土壤中汞的含量均在50 mg·kg-1以上,达到重度汞污染水平。对该地区野生植物的采样分析发现,蔷薇科植物悬钩子不仅数量较多,单株植物生物量较大,表现出很强的耐汞毒性的能力,而且植株内可以很大程度地富集汞,在其植株中汞的含量可达20 mg·kg-1左右,属于汞富集植物,另外发现野蒿对汞也具有较强的富集能力,其植株中汞的含量可达10 mg·kg-1以上。该类型植物的发现将为植物的汞耐受以及汞富集机理研究提供新的素材,为汞污染土壤的植物修复技术提供新的植物类型,也为进一步开发汞污染土壤处理技术提供了一种可能。     

The plausibility of a role for mercury in the etiology of autism: a cellular perspective

Autism is defined by a behavioral set of stereotypic and repetitious behavioral patterns in combination with social and communication deficits. There is emerging evidence supporting the hypothesis that autism may result from a combination of genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental toxins at critical moments in development. Mercury (Hg) is recognized as a ubiquitous environmental neurotoxin and there is mounting evidence linking it to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. Of course, the evidence is not derived from experimental trials with humans but rather from methods focusing on biomarkers of Hg damage, measurements of Hg exposure, epidemiological data, and animal studies. For ethical reasons, controlled Hg exposure in humans will never be conducted. Therefore, to properly evaluate the Hg-autism etiological hypothesis, it is essential to first establish the biological plausibility of the hypothesis. This review examines the plausibility of Hg as the primary etiological agent driving the cellular mechanisms by which Hg-induced neurotoxicity may result in the physiological attributes of autism. Key areas of focus include: (1) route and cellular mechanisms of Hg exposure in autism; (2) current research and examples of possible genetic variables that are linked to both Hg sensitivity and autism; (3) the role Hg may play as an environmental toxin fueling the oxidative stress found in autism; (4) role of mitochondrial dysfunction; and (5) possible role of Hg in abnormal neuroexcitory and excitotoxity that may play a role in the immune dysregulation found in autism. Future research directions that would assist in addressing the gaps in our knowledge are proposed.     

招远市区土壤及常见绿化植物汞污染特征

为查明长期黄金开采冶炼对城市汞污染的影响,以"金都"招远为研究对象,于2011年4月,采集了招远市区常见绿化植物柏树、落叶松、冬青的茎叶样品30份,并同步采集相应表层土壤样品34份。采用冷原子吸收法测定样品总汞含量,分析了土壤的理化性质。结果表明,招远市区表层土壤中汞含量范围为0.002~0.815 mg·kg-1,平均值为0.149 mg·kg-1。土壤汞含量与有机质呈极显著正相关,与p H、粗颗粒比例呈显著正相关关系,而与阳离子交换量、黏粒比例呈显著负相关。不同城市区域相比,处于金矿区污染源下风向、且与矿区距离较近的梦芝区土壤汞含量要显著高于其它区域。常见绿化植物茎叶汞含量范围为0.021~0.782 mg·kg-1,不同植物中的汞含量没有显著差异,但同种植物中茎、叶中汞含量存在极显著正相关。植物中的汞在各城市区域没有显著差异,与土壤汞含量也不存在显著相关性。研究结果显示,招远市区土壤和植物受周边金矿开采和黄金冶炼的影响,存在一定程度汞污染。     

Thimerosal in childhood vaccines contributes to accumulating mercury toxicity in the kidney

Mercury (Hg) is a hazardous chemical that accumulates in many cells and tissues, thereby producing toxicity. The kidney is a key target organ for Hg accumulation and toxicity. The contributing factors to Hg accumulation in humans include: (1) elemental and inorganic Hg exposure, often occurring by inhalation of Hg vapors; (2) exposure to methyl Hg (meHg), for example, through contaminated seafood; and (3) exposure to ethyl mercury (etHg) via thimerosal-containing vaccines. Systematic investigations on the toxic effects of etHg/thimerosal on the nervous system were carried out, and etHg/thimerosal emerged as a possible risk factor for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. There is, however, little known about the mechanisms and molecular interactions underlying toxicity of etHg/thimerosal in the kidney, which is the focus of the current review. Susceptible populations such as infants, pregnant women, and the elderly are exposed to etHg through thimerosal-containing vaccines, and in-depth study of the potential adverse effects on the kidney is needed. In general, toxicity occurring in association with different forms of Hg is related to: intracellular thiol metabolism and oxidative stress reactions; mitochondrial function; intracellular distribution and build-up of calcium; apoptosis; expression of stress proteins; and also interaction with the cytoskeleton. Available evidence for the etHg-induced toxicity in the kidney was examined, and the main mechanisms and molecular interactions of cytotoxicity of etHg/thimerosal exposure in kidney described. Such accumulating knowledge may help to indicate molecular pathways that, if modulated, may better handle Hg-mediated toxicity.     

Mercury-selenium-bromine imbalance in premature parturient California sea lions

High premature birth rates have been observed in the rookeries of the California sea lion Zalophus californianus since 1968. The reasons for the premature pupping are complex and, hence, not well understood, although leptospirosis infection and elevated PCB and DDT residues have been implicated. We were interested in determining what role trace and major elements played in these events. Livers and kidneys from 10 normal parturient and 10 premature parturient mothers and their pups were analyzed for Hg, Se, Br, Cd, Ag, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, K, Na, Ca, and Mg in order to detect differences that might exist between the two groups. A further objective was to establish how these elements varied in relation to each other in the normal and abnormal sea lions. Our results revealed that Hg, Se, Cd, and Br levels were significantly higher in the livers of the normal mothers and that these elements were all in balance (highly correlated) with each other. This was especially true for Hg, Se, and Br. In mothers with high concentrations of these elements (e.g. Hg greater than 800 g/g dry weight), atomic ratios of approximately 1Hg:1Se:1Br were observed. Atomic Se:Hg ratios were also near unity in the abnormal mothers; however, Br concentrations were always severely depressed in these individuals. Normal full-term pups had higher hepatic levels of Hg and Se, and near-perfect 1:1 Se:Hg atomic ratios were almost always observed. In contrast, the livers of the premature pups appeared to be deficient in Hg, and, consequently, elevated Se:Hg ratios were always found. In almost all cases, the premature pups had increased concentrations of Na, Ca, and Br. Levels of these elements were correlated with their Se:Hg ratios. Amounts of Mn and Cu were reduced in the premature pups and negatively correlated with Se:Hg ratios. The results suggest that balance between elements is of more importance than absolute concentration when the possible effects of toxic elements are considered. It also appears that bromine may be important in the detoxification process involving Se and Hg and perhaps Cd as well; i.e., every mother that had Br in balance with Hg, Cd, and Se had a normal pup, while every mother that lacked sufficient Br had a premature pup. The question of whether Hg detoxifies Se is also raised. All the normal pups had Se:Hg atomic ratios of less than 2.2, while all the premature pups had reduced Hg amounts and Se:Hg ratios above 3.4.     

上海市公园绿地常见落叶树木叶片汞浓度时空特征及环境意义

植物叶片汞浓度与大气气态单质汞(GEM/Hg0)浓度的线性关系表明叶片汞浓度大小可用于指示植物生长区内GEM浓度的高低水平.通过分析上海市绿地公园(25座)中常见落叶树木樱花、水杉、法桐叶片汞浓度的时空变化特征,探究区域内GEM含量水平及分布特征.2017年5-10月对7座公园中这3种树木叶汞浓度进行连续监测,结果显示...     

Mercury uptake by halophytes in response to a long-term contamination in coastal wetland salt marshes (northern Adriatic Sea)

Mercury (Hg) distribution in saltmarsh sediments and in three selected halophytes (Limonium narbonense, Sarcocornia fruticosa and Atriplex portulacoides) of a wetland system (Marano and Grado Lagoon, Italy) following a contamination gradient in sediments was investigated. The Hg uptake was evaluated at the root system level by calculating the enrichment factor (EF) and in the aboveground tissues by means of the translocation factor (TF). The related methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in the halophytes were also investigated with regard to the location of the sites and their degree of contamination. Hg concentration in halophytes seemed poorly correlated both with the total Hg in rhizo-sediments and with the specific plant considered, supporting the evidence that the chemico-physical parameters of sediments could significantly affect metal availability for plants. Hg concentrations in roots increased with depth and were 20-fold higher than content measured in related rhizo-sediments (high EF). A low content of Hg is translocated in aboveground tissues (very low TF values), thus highlighting a kind of avoidance strategy of these halophytes against Hg toxicity. MeHg values were comparable between the two sites and among species, but the translocation from below- to aboveground plant tissues was more active.     

珠三角某垃圾焚烧厂周边植物叶片汞含量空间格局影响因素影响因素

为研究珠三角某城市生活垃圾焚烧厂周边汞污染空间格局及影响因素,于2014年1月,采集了马占相思、荔枝和芒萁等优势种的叶片样品192份,并同步采集相应表层土壤样品64份,采用冷原子吸收法测定样品总汞含量,并运用ADMS模型对2013年大气汞年均浓度进行模拟,分析了植物叶片汞含量与土壤和大气汞浓度之间的关系。结果表明,植物叶片的汞含量范围为0.0029~0.1741 mg·kg-1,荔枝叶片汞含量最高,为(0.0766±0.0395)mg·kg-1,其次为芒萁((0.0599±0.0370)mg·kg-1)和马占相思((0.0556±0.0396)mg·kg-1)。植物叶片汞含量与土壤汞含量无显著相关性,而受风向和距污染源的距离影响显著,与ADMS模拟的大气年均汞浓度存在显著相关性。研究表明,植物叶片汞含量变化与烟气扩散浓度的空间分异格局基本吻合,叶片对大气中汞的吸收在植物与环境的汞交换中占据主导地位,对叶片的生物监测可以反映城市生活垃圾焚烧厂汞排放对生态环境的实际影响。     

Mercury bioaccumulation in estuarine food webs

We tested for unintended mercury contamination problems associated with estuarine floodplain restoration projects of the Louisiana coastal zone, USA. Barataria Bay and Breton Sound are two neighboring deltaic estuaries that were isolated by levees from the Mississippi River about 100 years ago. These estuaries recently have been reconnected to the nutrient-rich Mississippi River, starting major river diversion (input) flows in 1991 for Breton Sound and in 2004 for Barataria Bay. We collected > 2100 fish over five years from 20 stations in these estuaries to test two hypotheses about Hg bioaccumulation: (H1) Background Hg bioaccumulation in fish would be highest in low-salinity upper reaches of estuaries, and (H2) recent river inputs to these upper estuarine areas would increase Hg bioaccumulation in fish food webs. For H1, we surveyed fish Hg concentrations at several stations along a salinity gradient in Barataria Bay in 2003-2004, a time when this estuary lacked strong river inputs. Results showed that average Hg concentrations in fish communities were lowest (150 ng/g dry mass) in higher salinity areas and -2.4x higher (350 ng/g) in low-salinity oligohaline and freshwater upper reaches of the estuary. For H2, we tested for enhanced Hg bioaccumulation following diversion onset in both estuaries. Fish communities from Breton Sound that had long-term (> 10 years) diversion inputs had -1.7x higher average Hg contents of 610 ng/g Hg vs. 350 ng/g background values. Shorter-term diversion inputs over 2-3 years in upper Barataria Bay did not result in strong Hg enrichments or stable C isotope increases seen in Breton Sound, even though N and S stable-isotope values indicated strong river inputs in both estuaries. It may be that epiphyte communities on abundant submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are important hotspots for Hg cycling in these estuaries, and observed lesser development of these epiphyte communities in upper Barataria Bay during the first years of diversion inputs may account for the lessened Hg bioaccumulation in fish. A management consideration from this study is that river restoration projects may unintentionally fertilize SAV and epiphyte-based food webs, leading to higher Hg bioaccumulation in river-impacted floodplains and their food webs.     

Geochemical investigation of potentially harmful elements in household dust from a mercury-contaminated site,the town of Idrija (Slovenia)

A comprehensive geochemical investigation of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in household dust from the town of Idrija (Slovenia), once a world-famous Hg mining town that is now seriously polluted, was performed for the first time. After aqua regia digestion, the content of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was measured. PHE-bearing particles were recognised and observed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry before and after exposure to simulated stomach acid (SSA). Mercury binding forms were identified by Hg thermal desorption technique and gastric bioaccessible Hg was estimated after SSA extraction by ICP-MS. With regard to rural and urban background values for Slovenia, high Hg content (6–120 mg/kg) and slightly elevated As content (1–13 mg/kg) were found. Mercury pollution is a result of past mining and ore processing activities. Arsenic content is potentially associated with As enrichment in local soils. Four Hg binding forms were identified: all samples contained Hg bound to the dust matrix, 14 samples contained cinnabar, two samples contained metallic Hg (Hg⁰), and one sample assumingly contained mercury oxide. After exposure to SSA, Hg-bearing phases showed no signs of dissolution, while other PHE-bearing phases were significantly morphologically and/or chemically altered. Estimated gastric Hg bioaccessibility was low (<0.006–0.09 %), which is in accordance with identified Hg binding forms and high organic carbon content (15.9–31.5 %) in the dust samples.     

Exposure profiles of mercury in human hair at a terai belt of North India

Human hair is frequently used as a bioindicator of mercury exposure. Mercury (Hg) has for centuries been a useful metal in a variety of applications. Unfortunately, this usefulness is counterbalanced by its neurotoxicological health impact. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping the hair Hg level <1.0 µg/g. Therefore, an investigation has been performed in order to ascertain the hair Hg levels among the people living at the terai belt of North India. Hair samples were collected from 111 individuals and were placed in an identified plastic bag, stapled to prevent the shift of the hair strand. Samples were analyzed by combustion, gold amalgamation, atomic absorption spectrometry (C-GA-AAS). The mean Hg level in hair was 0.28 µg/g for the whole group ranging from 0.0012 to 1.9091 µg/g. The mean hair Hg levels were 0.16 µg/g for men and 0.12 µg/g for women, indicating that men had higher hair Hg levels than women. Total hair Hg was found to be significantly associated with age, gender and fish consumption frequency. 98 % of the total sample had hair Hg concentrations less than 1.0 µg/g, i.e, within safe dose, whereas only 2 % had Hg concentrations greater than 1.0 µg/g, thereby exceeding the safe dose.

     

Response of mercury accumulation to anthropogenic pollution in the past 1000 years based on Lake Huguangyan sediments,Southern China

A new ²¹⁰Pb-dated record of Hg accumulation derived from a sediment core from a Hg-enriched area in Huguangyan Lake (HGY) in South China is presented. Based on synthetic analyses of multi-proxy records including chemical composition, total organic matter, and grain-size distribution in surface sediments and nearby soil samples, it is inferred that the influx of Hg into the lake is mainly a result of atmospheric deposition, with no or minor hydroclimate-induced lithogenic input from the catchment and limited adsorption effects of organic matter and clay. Significantly enhanced anthropogenic input of Hg started in the early 1900s. Since then, several anomalies of Hg accumulation have been the results of wars or intensified economic activities in China. HGY sediments provide a rare and reliable natural archive for detecting atmospheric Hg deposition, which is closely related to anthropogenic activities.

     

植被在大气汞收支中作用的研究进展与展望

在汞的生物地球化学循环中,对于"源"和"汇"的认识还存在许多不确定性。大气汞收支不平衡的问题使得植被在汞循环中的作用日益凸现;开展植被在大气汞收支中作用的研究有助于为全球汞减排政策的制定提供参考。本文首先概述了植被中汞的来源和影响因素及其与大气汞的源汇关系;进而重点论述了植被参与大气汞收支的主要方式:凋落物沉降、生物质燃烧和植被表面与大气汞的动态交换,并阐述了植被在大气汞污染监测中的应用;最后在总结我国相关研究的基础上展望了未来的发展方向。     

典型菜地土壤汞在小白菜和胡萝卜可食部位的富集规律

对广东省蔬菜种植面积较大的10个城市典型菜地土壤和蔬菜（小白菜和胡萝卜）对应采样,分析217个蔬菜可食部位中重金属汞（Hg）质量分数及对应土壤中Hg全量和有效态质量分数,研究大田条件下小白菜和胡萝卜可食部位富集Hg的规律。结果表明,广东省菜地土壤存在一定的Hg污染,约20％的土壤超过国家土壤环境质量标准（GBl5618－1995）中二级标准值,但小白菜和胡萝卜中Hg质量分数较低,均值分别为0．0012和0．0013mg·kg-1,仅2个小白菜样品Hg质量分数超过国家食品卫生标准《食品中污染物限量》（GB2762-2005）中的限值0．01mg·kg-1。TGA提取的土壤有效态Hg质量分数与土壤Hg全量显著正相关,TGA提取Hg量仅占土壤总Hg质量分数的3％-4％。小白菜和胡萝卜对Hg的富集系数分别为0．90％和0．94％,表明土壤中绝大部分的Hg不易转化迁移、为蔬菜吸收。小白菜和胡萝卜可食部位Hg质量分数与土壤中Hg全量和有效态质量分数均存在显著的线性关系,其中蔬菜与土壤Hg有效态质量分数的关系优于其与土壤Hg全量的关系。依据国家食品卫生标准,通过拟合回归方程计算出的保障小白菜和胡萝b质量安全的菜地土壤Hg有效态质量分数临界值分别为O．038和0．063mg·kg-1。计算出的土壤Hg全量临界值远大于我国现行土壤环境质量标准的二级标准值,表明该标准值对于保障广东省小白菜和胡萝b质量安全来说可能过于严格。     

Diffusive gradient in thin films with open and restricted gels for predicting mercury uptake by plants

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The presence of mercury (Hg) in the environment is a major concern because mercury is toxic for living organisms. Estimating the Hg toxicity of environmental...     

Maternal transfer of mercury to the developing embryo/fetus: is there a safe level?

Mercury (Hg) exposure is ubiquitous in modern society via vaccines, fish/crustacea, dental amalgam, food, water, and the atmosphere. This article examines Hg exposure in the context of primary exposure to pregnant women and secondary exposure experienced by their unborn babies. Babies in utero are particularly at risk of higher Hg exposure than adults (on a dose/weight basis through maternal Hg transfer via the placenta), and are more susceptible to adverse effects from mercury and its biologically active compounds. It is, therefore, critical that regulatory advisories around maximum safe Hg exposures account for pregnant women and secondary exposure that children in utero experience. This study focused on standardized embryonic and fetal Hg exposures via primary exposure to the pregnant mother of two common Hg sources (dietary fish and parenteral vaccines). Data demonstrated that Hg exposures, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy, at well-established dose/weight ratios produced severe damage to humans including death. In light of research suggestive of a mercuric risk factor for childhood conditions such as tic disorders, cerebral palsy, and autism, it is essential that Hg advisories account for secondary prenatal human exposures.