Atmospheric mercury pollution around a chlor-alkali plant in Flix (NE Spain): an integrated analysis

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2015-04, Vol.22 (7), p.4842-4850
• Main Authors: Esbrí, José M, López-Berdonces, Miguel Angel, Fernández-Calderón, Sergio, Higueras, Pablo, Díez, Sergi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 19th century; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air Pollution - analysis; Alkalies; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric composition; Atmospheric Pollutants in a Changing Environment; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospherics; case studies; Chemical contaminants; Chlorine; computer software; conservation areas; Dispersions; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental changes; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental science; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Gold mines & mining; Industrial plant emissions; Lichens; Lichens - chemistry; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mercury - analysis; Mercury pollution; Pollution abatement; Pollution studies; Production capacity; Residential areas; River basins; Rivers; Sediments; soil; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - analysis; soil pollution; Spain; Surveys; Towns; villages; walking; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; watersheds; Wildlife
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3305-x

An integrated analysis approach has been applied to a mercury (Hg) case study on a chlor-alkali plant located in the Ebro River basin, close to the town of Flix (NE Spain). The study focused on atmospheric Hg and its incorporation in soils and lichens close to a mercury cell chlor-alkali plant (CAP), which has been operating since the end of the 19th century. Atmospheric Hg present in the area was characterized by means of seven total gaseous mercury (TGM) surveys carried out from 2007 to 2012. Surveys were carried out by car, walking, and at fixed locations, and covered an area of some 12 km²(including the CAP area, the village in which workers live, Flix town, and the Sebes Wildlife Reserve). Finally, an atmospheric Hg dispersion model was developed with ISC-AERMOD software validated by a lichen survey of the area. The results for the atmospheric compartment seem to indicate that the Flix area currently has the highest levels of Hg pollution in Spain on the basis of the extremely high average concentrations in the vicinity of the CAP (229 ng m⁻³). Moreover, the Hg⁰plume affects Flix town center to some extent, with values well above the international thresholds for residential areas. Wet and dry Hg deposition reached its highest values on the banks of the Ebro River, and this contributes to increased soil contamination (range 44–12,900 ng g⁻¹, average 775 ng g⁻¹). A good fit was obtained between anomalous areas indicated by lichens and the dispersion model for 1 year.