Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico.
Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico.
Environ Geochem Health. 2020 Nov;42(11):3717-3729. doi: 10.1007/s10653-020-00610-6. Epub 2020 Jun 7.
The contribution of Hg from volcanic emanations is decisive for assessing global mercury emissions given the impact of this highly toxic contaminant on human health and ecosystems. Atmospheric Hg emissions from Popocatépetl volcano and their dispersion were evaluated carrying out two gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) surveys during a period of intense volcanic activity. Continuous GEM measurements were taken for 24 h using a portable mercury vapor analyzer (Lumex RA-915M) at the Altzomoni Atmospheric Observatory (AAO), 11 km from the crater. In addition, a long-distance survey to measure GEM was conducted during an automobile transect around the volcano, covering a distance of 129 km. The evaluation of the GEM data registered in the fixed location showed that heightened volcanic activity clearly intensifies the concentration of atmospheric Hg, extreme values around 5 ng m. Highest concentrations of GEM recorded during the mobile survey were about 10 ng m. In both surveys, the recorded concentrations during most of the measurement time were below 2 ng m, but measurements were taken at a considerable distance from the crater, and GEM is subject to dilution processes. During both surveys, recorded GEM did not exceed the 200 ng m concentration recommended by the WHO (Air quality guidelines for Europe, 2000) as the regulatory limits for Hg in the atmospheric environment for long-term inhalation. Because this study was carried out in inhabited areas around the volcano during a period of intense volcanic activity, it can be concluded that the Popocatépetl does not represent a risk to human health in terms of Hg.
考虑到这种高度有毒污染物对人类健康和生态系统的影响，火山喷发汞的贡献对于评估全球汞排放至关重要。在火山活动剧烈期间，进行了两次气态元素汞（GEM）调查，评估了波波卡特佩特火山的大气汞排放及其分散情况。在距离火山口 11 公里的阿尔托兹莫尼大气观测站（AAO），使用便携式汞蒸气分析仪（Lumex RA-915M）连续进行了 24 小时的 GEM 连续测量。此外，还进行了一次长途 GEM 测量，在环绕火山的汽车横切线上进行，覆盖了 129 公里的距离。在固定位置记录的 GEM 数据的评估表明，火山活动的加剧明显增强了大气汞的浓度，极值约为 5ngm。在移动测量中记录的最高 GEM 浓度约为 10ngm。在这两个调查中，在大部分测量时间内记录的浓度都低于 2ngm，但测量是在离火山口相当远的地方进行的，而且 GEM 受到稀释过程的影响。在这两次调查中，记录的 GEM 都没有超过世界卫生组织（2000 年欧洲空气质量指南）建议的 200ngm 浓度，作为大气环境中 Hg 的长期吸入的监管限制。由于这项研究是在火山活动剧烈期间在火山周围有人居住的地区进行的，因此可以得出结论，波波卡特佩特火山不会对人类健康造成 Hg 风险。
