Residential mercury contamination in adobe brick homes in Huancavelica, Peru

• Published in: PloS one 2013-09, Vol.8 (9), p.e75179
• Main Authors: Hagan, Nicole, Robins, Nicholas, Hsu-Kim, Heileen, Halabi, Susan, Espinoza Gonzales, Ruben Dario, Richter, Daniel deB, Vandenberg, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air - analysis; Air sampling; Amalgamation; Brick construction; Bricks; Building materials; Cities - statistics & numerical data; Clay; Construction materials; Construction Materials - analysis; Contamination; Correlation; Data mining; Dirt; Dust; Dust - analysis; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Environmental protection; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Floors and Floorcoverings; Gold; Historic buildings & sites; Historic sites; Houses; Housing; Humans; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mercury - analysis; Mercury - chemistry; Mining; Neighborhoods; Peru; R&D; Research & development; Residential areas; Residential communities; Samples; Sediment pollution; Silver; Silver mines; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Statistical significance; Urban areas; Vapors; Volatilization
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075179

This is the first study of adobe brick contamination anywhere in the world. Huancavelica, Peru is the site of historic cinnabar refining and one of the most mercury (Hg) contaminated urban areas in the world. Over 80% of homes in Huancavelica are constructed with adobe bricks made from Hg contaminated soil. In this study we measured total Hg concentrations in adobe brick, dirt floor, surface dust, and air samples from the interior of 60 adobe brick houses located in four neighborhoods. Concentrations of total Hg in adobe bricks, dirt floors, and surface dust ranged from 8.00 to 1070 µg/g, 3.06 to 926 µg/g, and 0.02 to 9.69 µg/wipe, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the four neighborhoods. Concentrations of Hg in adobe brick and dirt floor samples in Huancavelica were orders of magnitude higher than in Ayacucho, a non-mining town in Peru. A strong correlation exists between total Hg concentrations in adobe bricks and dirt floors which confirms that adobe bricks were being made on-site and not purchased from an off-site source. A strong correlation between surface dust and adobe bricks and dirt floors indicates that walls and floors serve as indoor sources of Hg contamination. Elemental Hg vapor concentrations were below detection (