Speciation, distribution, and transport of mercury in contaminated soils from Descoberto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
This work describes an investigation of mercury contamination in an abandoned gold mining site in the rural area of Descoberto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, whose inhabitants have reported "silver balls" present in the soil. Different granulometric fractions of soil samples and sedimented material from rainwater retention tanks in this area were analyzed for total mercury, organic matter, and mercury speciation by thermodesorption/atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed mercury concentrations in the soils in the range of (0.0371-161) mg kg(-1), and the occurrence of Hg(0) oxidation. Some samples had concentrations as high as 90 mg kg(-1) with the majority as Hg(2+), which is important information in order to understand the biogeochemical behavior of mercury in contaminated sites and to apply the appropriate remediation technology. The retention boxes and tank samples showed that fine particles with high mercury content (3.3-90) mg kg(-1) are leached from the contaminated area, which reveals the need for efficient control of this material to prevent the contamination of stream waters. This study is an example that may be useful for other contaminated sites.
Durão Júnior
Walter Alves
WA
Federal University of Minas Gerais, ICEx, Chemistry Department, ICEx, Departamento de Química CEP, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627. 31270-901. Belo Horizonte. MG, Brazil.
Palmieri
Helena Eugênia Leonhardt
HE
Trindade
Mauro Campos
MC
de Aquino Branco
Otávio Eurico
OE
Filho
Carlos Alberto Carvalho
CA
Fleming
Peter Marschall
PM
da Silva
José Bento Borba
JB
Windmöller
Cláudia Carvalhinho
CC
D001938:Brazil; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008628:Mercury