Milena Horvat and co-workers Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia [email protected]AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR THE REMEDIATION OF A THE REMEDIATION OF A CATCHMENT IMPACTED BY CATCHMENT IMPACTED BY FORMER MERCURY MINING FORMER MERCURY MINING
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Milena Horvat and co-workersDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR THE REMEDIATION OF A THE REMEDIATION OF A CATCHMENT IMPACTED BY CATCHMENT IMPACTED BY FORMER MERCURY MININGFORMER MERCURY MINING
CoCo--workersworkers
Jože
Kotnik,
Darija, Gibičar, Vesna Fajon, Nives Ogrinc, Nataša Nolde, David Kocman,
Suzana Žižek, Branko
Kontić-
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, LjubljanaAlfred B. Kobal, Tatjana
Dizdarević
-
Mercury Mine, IdrijaJoško Osredkar -
ICCB, University
Medical
Center, LjubljanaJadran
Faganeli
-
Marine Biological Station, National Institute
of Biology, PiranRudolf Rajar, Dušan Žagar, Gregor Petkovšek -
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, University of LjubljanaDamjana Drobne, Mihael Toman, Suzana Žižek -
Faculty
of
Biology, University
of
LjubljanaStefano
Covelli
– University of Trieste, ItalyFabio
Barbone
–
University
of
Udine, Italy
Institute Jožef Stefan
EU - Hg
strategy
January
2005, the
Commission
sent
to the
Council
and
to the
European
Parliament
a communication
on a Community
strategy
on mercury
(doc. 5999/05), adopted
on 24.June, 2005.
Institute Jožef Stefan
Reducing mercury emissionsCutting supply and demandLooking for long-term solutions for mercurysurpluses and reservoirsProtecting against mercury exposureImproving understanding of the mercury problemSupporting and promoting international action on mercury.
EU Hg
strategy International action
International initiative on production and supplyBilateral supportUNEP Mercury ProgrammeUNDP/GEF/UNIDO Global Mercury ProgrammeUNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air PollutionEU Hg conference, Brussels, 26 – 27. October 2006
WhyWhy MediterraneanMediterranean??
LOCATIONS OF MERCURY MINES LOCATIONS OF MERCURY MINES IN THE MEDITERRANEANIN THE MEDITERRANEAN
MERCURY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN FISHMERCURY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN FISH
0
1,0
2,0
3,0
4,0
5,0
0 100 200 300 400Body weight (kg)
Atlantic
Mediterranean
Total Hg in Thunnus thynnus
Con
cent
ratio
n(m
g/kg
, FW
)0 20 40 60
Body weight (g)
0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
Con
cent
ratio
n(m
g/kg
, FW
)
Total Hg in Sardina pilchardus
Mediterranean
Atlantic
Bernhard et al., 1990
StudyStudy
areaarea::interactioninteraction
betweenbetweenthethe
catchmentcatchment
andand
coastalcoastal
environmentsenvironments
Past:
- 500 years of Hg mining (1490-1990)
- 127.000 tons of Hg extracted
- >37.000 tons lost into the environment
- >12.000 tons entered the river system
Today:
- About 2500 kg/y enters the river system
- About 1500 kg/y transported to the Gulf of Trieste
Catchment
area: 3300 km2
Soča at the
mouth: 170 m3/s (extreme
3000–
4000 m3/s)
Precipitation: 1500 mm/y 0.3 Mio inhabitants
Institute Jožef Stefan
Mercury cycle in the wider Idrija region and the Gulf of Trieste
Hgo
Hg2+ CH Hgin CH
3+
3 CH Hg3
HgoHg2+ CH Hg3+
DAM
Contaminatedsediments
Hgo
Hg2+ CH Hgin CH
3+
3 CH Hg3
HgoHg2+ CH Hg3+
ADVECTION and DIFFUSION
CH Hg3 CH3
Hg2+ CH Hg3+
E s t u a r y
Industrialwastes
Estuarinecontaminated sediment
, , ,
I: ASSESMENT OF THE I: ASSESMENT OF THE CURRRENT SITUATIONCURRRENT SITUATION
Mercury in river waterMercury in river water
CZAAD6109876543210
100
200
300
400
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Total HgMeHg
Sampling Site (not to scale)
Tota
l Hg
(ng/
L)
MeH
g (n
g/L)
Idrija River
MarineSoca River
109876543210
1
2
3
4
5
Perc
ent M
eHg
D6 AA CZ
Sampling Site (not to scale)
Idrija River
Soca River
Marine
Mercury in marine sedimentsMercury in marine sediments
demethylation• reduction• oxydation• exchange with the
bottom sedimentADVECTION-DISPERSION MODEL FOR
MERCURY with transformations
Hg MODULEPCFLOW3D
Institute Jožef Stefan
To the Gulf2160 t
Evasion30 t
Sedimentation1830 t
15.000 tons
Institute Jožef Stefan
III. WHAT WE CAN DO
The reduction of MeHg in seafood can
therefore be defined as the priority objective with regard to the mercury contamination problem in the wider Idrija area and in the Gulf of Trieste.
It is generally
accepted that the formation and bioaccumulation of MeHg
is the most
critical point of environmental quality in mercury contaminated sites.
Institute Jožef Stefan
POSSIBLE MEASURES to reduce
toxic effect
of
MeHg in the
area
Reducing Hg transport within the river system:diminish erosion near Idrija (forestation, elimination of hotspots)dredging of sediments along both riversconstruction of new reservoirs (?) – or elimination (?)
Reducing methylation (conditions):to improve water quality in the river sytem and the Gulf –WW treatment, reducing mariculture, aeration (?)dredging of bottom sediment to reduce the source of MMHg -technically possible, very expensive, where to put Hg contaminated sediment (?)
Administrative measures – prohibition of fishing, mariculture…
Institute Jožef Stefan
A conceptual
Drivers-Pressure-State-Impact-Response model (DPSIR)
DRIVERSIncreasing demand of energy, transport,
agriculture and fisheries, waste.Fossil fuels consumption, Manufacturing industry
Waste production, Mining, Agriculture
PRESSURESEmissions of Hg to the atmosphere, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
STATEHg concentrations in air, water, biota
elevated MeHg in Gulf of Triesteand in the reservoirs
IMPACTSEffects on ecosystem and man
effects on human health, change in species abundence and distribution
Reducing emissions:Polluted sites as important source categoryInventory of Hg polluted sitesComparability of data on emissions (standardizedprotocols)
Reducing supply:Hg mining: historical, economic and societal significanceand reponsability for environmental degradation
Protecting against exposure:mixed exposure to inorganic and organic Hg
Improved understanding:Integrated tools for the remediation of Hg polluted sites(including modeling)Integrated measurement tools (chemical, physical andbiological) – early warning systems
Societal and economic implications ofemission reduction measures
Benefits: environmental and health & economicand societalSelection of alternatives: Strategic environmentalassessment (SEA)
Reduction of global pool of Hg in longer time perspectiveIncrease of quality of life (social&security, employment, education, etc..)Economy (generator of further local/regionaldevelopoment, transition from production to service, transition to higher education jobs, etc..)