Monitoring and modeling projects for fate of Hg species in Japan

Abstract

Japan has started a monitoring program that will provide background air monitoring data of mercury and other heavy metals to contribute to the understanding of their atmospheric long-range transport. For this purpose, Japan started a pilot project in 2007 to monitor levels of mercury and obtain information on the long range transport of mercury and other heavy metals in the Asia-Pacific region, and to develop monitoring methodologies and contribute to international efforts in ambient atmospheric monitoring. The project will also develop fate modelling methodology that helps understand the global cycling of mercury in the atmosphere and environment, by expanding the information from the monitoring outputs. Pilot monitoring is conducted at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station operated by the National Institute for Environment Studies, in Okinawa. Mercury speciation such as gaseous elemental mercury (Hg), divalent reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particulate mercury (PM) are continuously measured with a Tekran mercury speciation system. Hazardous heavy metals in particles and in precipitation are also measured. Japan will continue the monitoring at Cape Hedo station to understand the background levels of mercury and other toxic substances and contribute to the better understanding of the current status of mercury in the environment by joining in the international efforts in ambient atmospheric monitoring. In addition to the monitoring program, fate analysis using modelling methodology is also studied in the project framework. © 2009 Springer-Verlag New York.