Toxicity of mercury in different samples (water and soils) and its exposure in Pakistan. | [Science International • 2012]

Author(s):

1. Zaigham Abbas: College of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

2. Muhammad Nawaz Chaudary: College of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

3. Ahtasham Raza: College of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

4. Arshad Mehmood: College of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract:

The environmental impacts of Mercury and its compounds are globally wide spread and deep rooted due to its high toxicity. Four provinces of Pakistan have been inspected for first time during present study for mercury exposure to environment. A total of 108 solid (soils) and liquid (wastewater) samples were selected for identification and quantification of mercury contents using Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometric method. The maximum mercury released in Kg/Year has been estimated as 1625.11 in extraction process, fuel and energy sources; 2500 in Cement production; 21120 in Chlor-alkali production; 1071.79 in Consumer products with intentional use of mercury; 5779 in other intentional products/process uses and 4637.55 in Waste deposition/land filling and waste water treatment indicating total cumulative release of 36898.77 Kg/year. The total minimum per year emission and transfer of mercury in Pakistan is 10842 Kg represents 637.76 mg per capita per year exposure of mercury which is highly alarming figure. Agricultural soils have very less values of mercury than permissible limit (i.e. within the maximum permissible limit of 0.3 mg/kg). The monitored figures indicated that maximum mercury concentration is limited to the solid waste disposal sites in all provinces of Pakistan. The exposure of mercury in other sources i.e. both land and water is only 2300 kg/year that represents a small segment of the overall annual exposure.

Page(s): 421-429

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Science International, Volume: 24, Issue: 4, Year: 2012

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