Tracing Atmospheric Mercury from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the largest primary sources of mercury (Hg) pollution in the atmosphere globally; however, there is a paucity of atmospheric Hg data in ASGM areas. We measured atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations and stable Hg isotopes at fine spatial resolution in the Madre de Dios region of Peru, where ASGM is a major source of Hg. This study employed new passive air samplers that overcome logistical challenges in measuring atmospheric Hg in remote locations. Regional GEM concentrations were elevated (∼1.3 to 11 ng m<sup>-3</sup>) compared to the background (<1 ng m<sup>-3</sup>), with very high GEM levels (∼10 to >5000 ng m<sup>-3</sup>) associated with mining areas and gold shops. Because ASGM-derived GEM is isotopically distinct, its contribution to regional and local atmospheric Hg was estimated using an isotope mixing model and found to be generally over 70%. We also show that vegetation is taking up ASGM-derived GEM, affecting both the concentrations and isotope compositions of GEM as well as in foliage and litter samples. This supports vegetation uptake as a key removal process of GEM from the atmosphere and therefore a major source of Hg to terrestrial ecosystems and soils, which is heightened in ASGM regions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2025-03-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c10521
Citations
6
Primary Topic
Mercury impact and mitigation studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
7.20

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article

Tracing Atmospheric Mercury from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

Cláudia M. Vega, Luis E. Fernandez, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Emily S. Bernhardt et al.
6 citations
Environmental Science & Technology
Mercury impact and mitigation studies
7.20
article

Tracing Atmospheric Mercury from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

Cláudia M. Vega, Luis E. Fernandez, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Emily S. Bernhardt, M. Pillaca, Adam M. Kiefer, S. Delgado, Domenica Lee, David S. McLagan, Jacqueline R. Gerson, Natalie Szponar, Bridget A. Bergquist, Frank Wania, Nabila Rahman
article en
6 citations

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the largest primary sources of mercury (Hg) pollution in the atmosphere globally; however, there is a paucity of atmospheric Hg data in ASGM areas. We measured atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations and stable Hg isotopes at fine spatial resolution in the Madre de Dios region of Peru, where ASGM is a major source of Hg. This study employed new passive air samplers that overcome logistical challenges in measuring atmospheric Hg in remote locations. Regional GEM concentrations were elevated (∼1.3 to 11 ng m<sup>-3</sup>) compared to the background (<1 ng m<sup>-3</sup>), with very high GEM levels (∼10 to >5000 ng m<sup>-3</sup>) associated with mining areas and gold shops. Because ASGM-derived GEM is isotopically distinct, its contribution to regional and local atmospheric Hg was estimated using an isotope mixing model and found to be generally over 70%. We also show that vegetation is taking up ASGM-derived GEM, affecting both the concentrations and isotope compositions of GEM as well as in foliage and litter samples. This supports vegetation uptake as a key removal process of GEM from the atmosphere and therefore a major source of Hg to terrestrial ecosystems and soils, which is heightened in ASGM regions.

Environmental Science & TechnologyVol. 59(10)
Amazon (United States) (US), Mercer University (US), Duke University (US), University of Toronto (CA), Queen's University (CA), Cornell University (US), Scarborough Health Network (CA), Mercer University Health Sciences Center (US), Institute for Sustainability (GB), Sabin Vaccine Institute (US), Liberal Arts University (RU), Wake Forest University (US)
United States Agency for International Development, Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Protection de la nature et des Parcs, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Mercury impact and mitigation studies
7.20
DOISourceOpenAlex
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