First investigations on gas-phase mercury in two Italian cities

Abstract

Mercury is an element naturally present in the biosphere of both natural and anthropogenic origins. From the chemical point of view mercury is present in the atmosphere in gaseous form as elementary mercury and Reactive Gaseous Mercury and adsorbed onto particulate matter over that in other forms in ultratrace. From the toxicological point of view mercury is extremely toxic, reaches all the organs and it is also quickly absorbed by the lungs. In this study seasonal study campaigns were performed during 2005-2006 in two urban areas of different Italian cities, Taranto and Venice, to investigate the levels and behavior of gaseous-phase mercury. For the sampling and analysis a portable instrument was used based on the atomic absorption methodology with the background correction through the Zeeman effect. No relevant situations for human health were found (the levels range between 1 and 15 ng/m3). © 2007 WIT Press.