Evaluation of mercury level in waters, bottom sediments and soils in selected rural areas

The studies carried out aimed at evaluation of the mercury level in waters, bottom sediments and soils in selected rural areas, during the season of mercury biocides application and after their withdrawal from agricultural use. Generally, in the period between 1976-1980 the mercury level in 1268 environmental samples has been examined. Shallow dug wells of bad technical state and wrong location particularly exposed to contamination, have been selected for the studies. Mercury level has been determined after mineralization with concentrated acids by means of flameless method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results have been compared with standards for mercury level in drinking waters (1 microgram/l) and in surface waters (5 micrograms/l), with the Warren-Devault criterion for soils (0.25 mg/kg) and with the value 1 mg/kg adopted as maximum natural mercury level in bottom sediments. The results have also been the subject to statistical analysis by means of the Tsao-Fei method and t-test. Mercury level in well waters, surface waters, bottom sediments and soils varied according to the region and the year of study and were respectively: 0.08-26.00 micrograms/l; 0.00-25.20 micrograms/l; 0.02-91.91 mg/kg; 0.01-24.94 mg/kg. Mercury levels of several dozen micrograms/l (waters) and several dozen mg/kg (bottom sediments and soils) have been recorded only in a few cases. A statistically significant decrease of mercury level in the environment of the regions investigated coincided with mercury biocides withdrawal from agricultural practice in our country.