Characterizing Dry Deposition of Mercury in Urban Runoff

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2007-10, Vol.185 (1-4), p.21-32
• Main Authors: Fulkerson, Mark, Nnadi, Fidelia N, Chasar, Lia S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Aquatic organisms; chemical analysis; Concentration (composition); Deposition; Dimethylmercury; Dry deposition; Drying; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Flushing; Freshwater; Heavy metals; hydrochemistry; Mercury; metals; Methylmercury; methylmercury compounds; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; rain; Rainfall; Rainwaters, run off water and others; Runoff; Storm runoff; Stormwater; Surface runoff; Urban areas; Urban runoff; Water pollution; Water quality; Water treatment and pollution; wet deposition
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-007-9396-y

Stormwater runoff from urban surfaces often contains elevated levels of toxic metals. When discharged directly into water bodies, these pollutants degrade water quality and impact aquatic life and human health. In this study, the composition of impervious surface runoff and associated rainfall was investigated for several storm events at an urban site in Orlando, Florida. Total mercury in runoff consisted of 58% particulate and 42% filtered forms. Concentration comparisons at the start and end of runoff events indicate that about 85% of particulate total mercury and 93% of particulate methylmercury were removed from the surface before runoff ended. Filtered mercury concentrations showed less than 50% reduction of both total and methylmercury from first flush to final flush. Direct comparison between rainfall and runoff at this urban site indicates dry deposition accounted for 22% of total inorganic mercury in runoff.