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Source identification of atmospheric particle-bound mercury in the Himalayan foothills through non-isotopic and isotope analyses TEXT SIZE: A A A
This study reports on the sources of atmospheric particle-bound mercury (HgP) in less studied regions of Nepal based on the analysis of stable mercury (Hg) isotopes in aerosol samples from two neighboring areas with high and low anthropogenic emissions (Kathmandu and Dhulikhel, respectively) during 2018. Although the Indian monsoon and westerlies are generally regarded as the primary carriers of pollutants to this region via the heavily industrialized Indo-Gangetic Plain, the concentrations of total suspended particles (TSP) and HgP in Kathmandu were higher than those in Dhulikhel, thus suggesting a substantial contribution from local sources. Both isotopic (delta 200Hg and Delta 199Hg) and non-isotopic evidence indicated that dust, waste burning, and industrial byproducts (without Hg amalgamation) were the major sources of Hg in Kathmandu during the study period. Mercury may have been transported via air masses from Kathmandu to Dhulikhel, as indicated by the similar organic carbon/ elemental carbon ratios and seasonal trends of TSP and HgP in these two locations. Local anthropogenic sources were found to contribute significantly to atmospheric Hg pollution through dust resuspension. Therefore, dust resuspension should be considered when evaluating the long-range transport of air pollutants such as Hg, particularly in anthropogenically stressed areas.
 

Publication name

 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION Volume286 Article Number117317 DOI10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117317 Published OCT 1 2021

Author(s)

 Guo, Junming; Sharma, Chhatra Mani; Tripathee, Lekhendra; Kang, Shichang; Fu, Xuewu; Huang, Jie; Shrestha, Kundan Lal; Chen, Pengfei

Corresponding author(s) 

 Tripathee, Lekhendra
 lekhendra.t@gmail.com
 -Chinese Acad Sci, Northwest Inst Ecoenvironm & Resources, State Key Lab Cryospher Sci, Lanzhou 730000, Peoples R China
 -Himalayan Environm Res Inst HERI, Kathmandu, Nepal

Author(s) from IGCAS   FU Xuewu

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