Concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury in ambient air within an academic chemistry building

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations were determined within an academic chemistry building by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Concentrations varied depending on the room activity, with night time and weekend levels the lowest and most stable (typically between 10 and 20 ng/m(3)), and daytime weekday levels the highest (averaging about 3-5 times higher). Laboratory air exhibited daytime concentration spikes as high as 1,600 ng/m(3). Office levels were similar to weekend laboratory concentrations, suggesting a general building-wide mercury background. However, concentration spikes suggest GEM levels may be exacerbated by foot traffic which may cause motion-induced wafting from higher concentration areas. Based on current regulations the GEM levels do not present a health hazard.