Use of Elemental Tracers to Source Apportion Mercury in South Florida Precipitation

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 33; no. 24; pp. 4522 - 4527
• Main Authors: Dvonch, J. Timothy, Graney, Joseph R, Keeler, Gerald J, Stevens, Robert K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.12.1999
• Subjects: AIR POLLUTION; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Emissions; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK; Exact sciences and technology; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MERCURY; Natural water pollution; POINT POLLUTANT SOURCES; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING; Rainwaters, run off water and others; SAMPLING; Trace elements; USA, Florida; USA, Florida, Everglades; USA, Florida, Southern; WATER POLLUTION; Water treatment and pollution; Florida; United States; North America; America; United States > US; Factor analysis; Atmospheric fallout; Multivariate analysis; Source sink relationship; Wet deposition; Heavy metal; Trace element; Rain; Pollution source inventory; Air pollution; Mercury; Principal component analysis; Tracers
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es9903678

Source−receptor relationships for mercury (Hg) and other trace elements wet deposited in south Florida were investigated using daily event precipitation samples collected concurrently at 17 sites from August 6 to September 6, 1995. A multivariate receptor modeling approach found municipal waste incineration and oil combustion sources to account for 71 ± 8% of the Hg wet deposited at five Florida Everglades sites. A similar analysis of a year-long record of event samples (June 22, 1995−June 21, 1996) collected at Davie, FL, found 73 ± 6% of the Hg wet deposited to be accounted for by local anthropogenic sources. Receptor modeling results closely agreed with stack measurements made at local point sources during the study. An emissions reconciliation found that local medical waste incineration sources, which emitted Hg primarily in the reactive form (Hg(II)), could account for the Hg wet deposition left unexplained by the multivariate receptor model. The above findings suggest that emissions from local urban point sources have played the dominant role in the wet deposition of Hg to south Florida and the Everglades. Additional speciated Hg emissions data are needed not only in south Florida but also nationally and globally to reduce uncertainties in modeled Hg loadings to aquatic ecosystems.