Mercury in baltic and north sea waters

Nanogram per litre levels of mercury were measured in seawater by improved techniques. Samples were taken in special PTFE containers in which the subsequent concentration of the element took place. Stannous chloride was added and the mercury amalgamated with gold deposited on silica glass wool. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 1992-03, Vol.62 (1-2), p.43-55
Main Author: SCHMIDT, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Exact sciences and technology
Marine
Natural water pollution
Pollution
Seawaters, estuaries
Water treatment and pollution
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Nanogram per litre levels of mercury were measured in seawater by improved techniques. Samples were taken in special PTFE containers in which the subsequent concentration of the element took place. Stannous chloride was added and the mercury amalgamated with gold deposited on silica glass wool. This was then released at 780K in a stream of nitrogen and conveyed to a cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometer. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng per litre and the coefficient of variation 4 per cent. Concentrations in the Baltic during 1980 were around 2 ng mercury per litre. Two surveys of the North sea in 1986 and 1987 revealed levels of close to the limit of detection, with the exception of some offshore areas east of Scotland where up to 200 ng mercury per litre was discovered; this was possibly associated with natural gas production. The Elbe river was significant point source to the German Bight. Levels, as high as 1000 ng mercury per litre in Hamburg harbour, fell exponentially as salinity rose.
ISSN:0049-6979
1573-2932
DOI:10.1007/BF00478452