title: The fate of mercury in municipal wastewater treatment plants in China: Significance and implications for environmental cycling.
abstract: Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play an important role in controlling pollutant discharges to surface waters. Previous studies suggested that the removal of mercury (Hg) by WWTPs was strongly correlated with solid removal. However, conclusions regarding possible transformations of Hg species within WWTPs were not consistent across those studies. We characterized total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and loads in a WWTP located in Jiaozuo, China, to further understand Hg fate and transformations in WWTPs. THg and MeHg were primarily associated with wastewater solids, and removal of both were greater than 90%; concentrations in the sewage were (2.0±2.7)×10(3)ng/L and 7.5±5.8ng/L, respectively. A mass balance calculation revealed that 80% of the THg input to the WWTP ended up in the sewage sludge (SS), while more than 70% of the influent MeHg mass was degraded, indicating WWTPs are an important sink for sewage-borne Hg. THg and MeHg concentrations in SS were (3.9±1.4)×10(3)ng/g and 6.3±2.3ng/g, respectively, suggesting SS could be a significant source of THg and MeHg to the environment if not handled properly. The significance of sewage and SS in the biogeochemical cycling of THg and MeHg in China is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China. Electronic address: yuxiangmao@hpu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China.
authors.forename: Bingjuan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States. Electronic address: cai@fiu.edu.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Fate; Mass balance; Methylmercury; Speciation; Wastewater treatment plant