title: Spatial distribution of mercury in the surface soils of the urban areas, Arak, Iran.
abstract: This study assessed the baseline concentrations and spatial distribution of total mercury (Hg) in urban soils of the city of Arak, Iran. Concentrations of Hg were determined in soil collected from urban areas, and the spatial distribution was analyzed using the semivariogram approach in geostatistical technology. Mercury in soil ranged from 66.3 to 581 µg/kg. The experimental variogram of soil mercury concentrations was best-fitted by a spherical model. A spatial distribution map revealed that Hg concentration showed decreasing trends from south to north, west to east and center to suburb. Overall, the results showed that Hg concentrations in urban soils of Arak may be considered medium or low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, P.O. Box 65719-95863, Malayer, Hamedan, Iran, e.solgi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Eisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solgi
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaili-Sari
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riyahi-Bakhtiari
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007492:Iran; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008628:Mercury