Mercury Distribution in Humus and Surficial Sediments, Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

Regional humus and surficial sediments were collected in the vicinity of a base metal smelter in Flin Flon. Results of total mercury (Hg) analyses indicate that enrichment in humus is related to emissions from the smelter stack up to a distance of 40 km. In the immediate vicinity of the point source, total Hg values reach as much as 250 times the regional background (400 ppb). This enrichment is not reflected in the underlying surficial sediments. The Hg distribution pattern is similar for other known metal pollutants emitted from the smelter.