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ABSTRACT
In this study, mercury (Hg) concentrations in dustfall and topsoil were investigated. Three hundred forty-four samples were collected, including dustfall and topsoil samples, across an area of ∼180 km2 in Wuda, China. Dustfall Hg concentration in Wuda ranged from 10 to 6453 ng·g−1, with an average of 305 ng·g−1, and topsoil Hg concentration ranged from 3 to 1537 ng·g−1, with an average value of 135 ng·g−1. The average dustfall Hg concentrations in the coalfield, industrial park, and urban areas were 289 ng·g−1, 809 ng·g−1, and 160 ng·g−1, respectively, and the corresponding average topsoil Hg concentrations were 216 ng·g−1, 242 ng·g−1, and 91 ng·g−1. Hg concentrations were significantly higher in the coalfield, industrial park, and urban areas compared with background values for Wuda and China tide soil. The coal Hg concentrations ranged from 273 to 346 ng·g−1, with an average value of 317 ng·g−1. Comparison of the Hg concentrations of Wuda coal with other regions and countries, indicated that Hg concentrations were significantly enriched in coal, highlighting that coal is the primary Hg source for Wuda District. While coal fires provided the primary source of Hg, some higher Hg values were caused by factors such as gangue hills and coalfield topography, the use of activated carbon with HgCl2 as a catalyst in the industrial park, and several coal washeries in wasteland areas. In addition to atmospheric Hg, underground coal seam emissions served as another potential Hg source in the coalfield. The surface soil Hg in the coalfield and industrial park areas should be given closer attention in the future.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Qingyi Cao, Zhe Wang, and Zhiwei Li, with College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology.