Chemical Fact Sheet
Mercury
| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) | 7439-97-6 |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | KWIK- (DUTCH); LIQUID-SILVER; MERCURE- (FRENCH); MERCURIO- (ITALIAN); MERCURY,-METALLIC-; NCI-C60399; QUECKSILBER- (GERMAN); QUICKSILVER; Hydrargyrum; COLLOIDAL-MERCURY |
| Analytical Methods | 245.2 - 7471 - SM3112 |
| Molecular Formula | Hg |
|
Synopsis
|
Mercury-(Planet Mercury), Hg (hydrargyrum, liquid silver); at. wt. 200.59(2); at. no. 80; t.p.-38.8344 deg C; b.p. 356.73 deg C; sp.gr. 13.546(20 deg C); valence 1 or 2. Known to ancient Chinese and Hindus; found in Egyptian tombs of 1500 B.C. Mercury is the only common metal liquid at ordinary temperatures. It only rarely occurs free in nature. The chief ore is cinnabar (HgS). Spain and Italy produce about 50% of the world's supply of the metal. The commercial unit for handling mercury is the "flask," which weighs 76 lb (34.46 kg) and is priced at about $250. The metal is obtained by heating cinnabar in a current of air and by condensing the vapor. It is a heavy, silvery-white metal; a rather poor conductor of heat, as compared with other metals, and a fair conductor of electricity. It easily forms alloys with many metals, such as gold, silver, and tin, which are called amalgams. Its ease in amalgamating with gold is made use of in the recovery of gold from its ores. The metal is widely used in laboratory work for making thermometers, barometers, diffusion pumps, and many other instruments. It is used in making mercury-vapor lamps and advertising signs, etc. and is used in mercury switches and other electrical apparatus. Other uses are in making pesticides, mercury cells for caustic soda and chlorine production, dental preparations, antifouling paint, batteries, and catalysts. The most important salts are mercuric chloride HgCl2 (corrosive sublimate - a violent poison), mercurous chloride Hg2Cl2 (calomel, occasionally still used in medicine), mercury fulminate (Hg(ONC)2), a detonator widely used in explosives, and mercuric sulfide (HgS, vermillion, a high-grade paint pigment). Organic mercury compounds are important. It has been found that an electrical discharge causes mercury vapor to combine with neon, argon, krypton, and xenon. These products, held together with van der Waals' forces, correspond to HgNe, HgAr, HgKr, and HgXe. Mercury is a virulent poison and is readily absorbed through the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, or through unbroken skin. It acts as a cumulative poison and dangerous levels are readily attained in air. Air saturated with mercury vapor at 20 deg C contains a concentration that exceeds the toxic limit many times. The danger increases at higher temperatures. It is therefore important that mercury be handled with care. Containers of mercury should be securely covered and spillage should be avoided. If it is necessary to heat mercury or mercury compounds, it should be done in a well-ventilated hood. Methyl mercury is a dangerous pollutant and is now widely found in water and streams. The triple point of mercury, -38.8344 deg C, is a fixed point on the International Temperature Scale (ITS-90). Native mercury contains seven isotopes. Thirty five other isotopes and isomers are known. |
| Use | IN BAROMETERS, THERMOMETERS, HYDROMETERS, PYROMETERS; IN MERCURY ARC LAMPS PRODUCING ULTRAVIOLET RAYS, IN SWITCHES, FLUORESCENT LAMPS; IN MERCURY BOILERS; MFR ALL MERCURY SALTS, MIRRORS; CATALYST IN OXIDN OF ORG CMPD; EXTRACTING GOLD & SILVER FROM ORES; ELECTRIC RECTIFIERS; MAKING MERCURY FULMINATE; FOR MILLON'S REAGENT; AS CATHODE IN ELECTROLYSIS, ELECTROANALYSIS PULP & PAPER MFR COMPONENT OF BATTERIES (EG, ZINC-CARBON & MERCURY CELLS), INDUSTRIAL & CONTROL INSTRUMENTS (EG, METERS), & AMALGAMS (EG, FOR DENTAL PREPARATIONS); AGENT IN MFR OF WIRE & SWITCHING DEVICES (EG, OSCILLATORS); CATHODE IN ELECTROLYTIC MFR OF CHLORINE & CAUSTIC SODA; CATALYST FOR URETHANE & EPOXY RESINS; LABORATORY REAGENT; LUBRICANT (EG, IN TURBINES) METALLIC MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) HAS BEEN EMPLOYED IN INDIA TO FUMIGATE & PROTECT GRAIN IN CLOSED CONTAINERS FROM INSECT INFESTATION. Used in pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, antifouling paints, as a wet chemistry method, and many other uses. |
| Consumption Patterns | MFR OF ELECTRICAL APPARATUS, 56%; MFR OF CHLORINE & CAUSTIC SODA (REPLENISHMENT OF MERCURY LOST IN PROCESS & NOT RECYCLED), 13%; MFR OF INDUSTRIAL & CONTROL INSTRUMENTS, 7%; DENTAL AMALGAMS, 2%; OTHER USES (MOSTLY AS CHEM INT, ALSO INCLUDES OTHER AMALGAMS & MERCURY USED IN PRODN OF NEW CHLORINE/CAUSTIC SODA PLANTS), 22% (1982) Electrical products such as dry-cell batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, switches, and other control equipment account for 50% of mercury used. Mercury is also used in substantial quantities in electrolytic preparation of chlorine and caustic soda (chlor-alkali industry, mercury cell process; 25%), paint manufacture (12%), and dental preparations (3%). Lesser quantities are used in industrial catalyst manufacture (2%), pesticides manufacture (1%), general laboratory use (1%), and pharmaceuticals (0.1%). Electrical, 56%; electrolytic production of chlorine and caustic soda, 12%; paints, 10%; industrial and control instruments, 6%; and other, 16% (1986) |
| Apparent Color | SILVER-WHITE, HEAVY, MOBILE, LIQUID METAL; SOLID MERCURY IS TIN-WHITE |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Boiling Point | 356.72 DEG C |
| Melting Point | -38.87 DEG C |
| Molecular Weight | 200.59 |
| Density | 13.534 AT 25 DEG C |
| Sensitivity Data | MANY MERCURY CMPDS ARE IRRITATING TO SKIN & MAY PRODUCE DERMATITIS WITH OR WITHOUT VESICATION. CONTACT WITH EYES CAUSES ULCERATION OF CONJUNCTIVA & CORNEA. |
|
Chemical and Physical Properties |
DUCTILE MALLEABLE MASS WHICH MAY BE CUT WITH A KNIFE; ATOMIC NUMBER 80; VALENCES 1 & 2; GROUP 2B ELEMENT OF PERIODIC TABLE; NATURAL ISOTOPES 202 (29.80%), 200 (23.13%), 199 (16.84%), 201 (13.22%), 198 (10.02%), 204 (6.85%) & 196 (0.146%); ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY 95.76 MICROOHM CM AT 20 DEG C; FORMS ALLOYS WITH MOST METALS EXCEPT IRON & COMBINES WITH SULFUR AT ORDINARY TEMP; REACTS WITH HNO3, HOT CONCN H2SO4, & AMMONIA SOLUTIONS TO FORM HG2NOH (MILLON'S BASE); STD ELECTRODE REDUCTION POTENTIAL: EO (AQ) HG/HG2+ EQUALS -0.854 VOLTS; EO (AQ) 2 HG/2HG2+ EQUALS -0.789 VOLTS HEAT CAPACITY (CP): 6.687 CAL/MOLE AT 25 DEG C FORMS CMPD WITH ORG RADICALS, NORMALLY LINKING COVALENTLY TO CARBON ATOM SATURATED ATMOSPHERE AT 24 DEG C CONTAINS APPROX 18 MG/CU M; THE VAPOR EXISTS IN A MONOATOMIC STATE Reacts with HNO3 and hot, concentrated H2SO4, does not react with dil hydrochloric acid, cold H2SO4, or alkalies. Reacts with ammonia solutions in air to form Hg2NOH, Millon's base. |
|
Environmental Impact |
ONE OF MAJOR SOURCES OF EXPOSURE IS IN CHLOR-ALKALI PLANTS OTHER SOURCES ARE MINING & REFINING OF MERCURY FROM PROCESSING OF CINNABAR (HGS) MFR & USE OF LIQ HG-CONTAINING INSTRUMENTS AN OFTEN UNREALIZED SOURCE OF EXPOSURE THROUGH BREAKAGE, SPILLAGE, OR CARELESS HANDLING. MOTHERS EXPOSED TO ELEMENTAL MERCURY THROUGH THEIR DENTAL WORK PLACE SHOWED SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED MERCURY CONTENT IN THEIR BABIES' PLACENTA & MEMBRANES. EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE & LEVELS AT WHICH TOXICITY MIGHT BE EXPECTED HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED. FOR FETUS & NEWBORN, THE TOXIC LEVEL IS GIVEN AS 3 UG HG/G. INHALATION OF VAPOR BY LABORATORY WORKERS IN CLOSED SPACE LED TO BRONCHIAL IRRITATION /& CHARACTERISTIC MERCURY POISONING SYMPTOMS CHRONIC MERCURIALISM IN FUR-CUTTING & FELT-HAT INDUSTRIES IS REPORTED. ALTHOUGH MERCURIC NITRATE WAS MATERIAL USED TO TREAT FUR FROM WHICH FELT WAS MADE, MERCURY WAS GRADUALLY RELEASED FROM FUR & FELT IN FORM OF METALLIC MERCURY VAPOR. THE WORKERS HAD MIXED EXPOSURE TO DUST OF MERCURY CMPD (ESP THE NITRATE) & TO VAPOR OF ELEMENT. POISONING WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OBSERVED WITHMETALLIC MERCURY ONLY. NIOSH, IN ITS CRITERIA DOCUMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE STD SHOULD BE AT LEAST AS LOW AS 0.05 MG/CU M BECAUSE ERETHISM, RATHER THAN TREMOR, MAY BE THE MOST CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOM OF CHRONIC MERCURIALISM OCCURRING IN 33% OF WORKERS ABOVE 0.05 MG/CU M & IN 8% OF WORKERS BELOW THIS LEVEL STUDIES OF WORKPLACES REVEAL THAT MUCH HIGHER EXPOSURES TO MERCURY VAPOR OCCUR WHEN MEASURED BY PERSONAL SAMPLING DEVICES (0.016 TO 0.687 MG/CU M). THESE DIFFERENCES HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTABLE TO MERCURY CONTAMINATION OF CLOTHING, WHICH MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE AFTER WORK HOURS. Acute poisoning is major threat in home & on farm, but, because mercury is a cumulative poison, subacute & chronic intoxications are recognized, particularly in industry. |
|
Environmental Fate |
MERCURY ORE IS FOUND IN ROCKS OF ALL CLASSES. COMMON HOST ROCKS ARE LIMESTONE, CALCAREOUS SHALES, SANDSTONE, SERPENTINE (3MGO.2SIO2.2H2O), CHERT ANDESITE (SODA LIME FELDSPAR), BASALT, & RHYOLITE (ALKALINE FELDSPAR & QUARTZ). MERCURY IS RECOVERED ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM CINNABAR (ALPHA-HGS), 86.2% HG, ALTHOUGH ELEMENTAL MERCURY OCCURS IN SOME ORES. Joint FAO/WHO expert committee on Food Additives (1972) quotes the major source of mercury (Hg) as the natural degassing of the earth's crust in the range of 25,000-150,000 ton of Hg/yr. The mercury (Hg) content of some common ore and gangue minerals as a result of its coexistence in a deposit with cinnabar, metacinnabar or other Hg minerals is as follows: Tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13) 17.6-21%; Grey copper ores (Cu,As,SB)XSy 14%; Spalerite (ZnS) 1%; Wurtzite (ZnS) 0.03%; Stibnite (Sb2S3) 1.3%; Realgar (AsS) 2.2%; Pyrite (FeS2) 2%; Galena (PbS) 0.02%; Marcasite (FeS2) 0.07%; Native gold (Au) 60%; Native silver (Ag) 30%; Barite (BaSO4) 0.5%; Cerussite (PbCO3) 0.1%; Flourite (CaF2) 0.01%; Calcite (CaCO3) 0.03%; Aragonite (CaCO3) 3.7%; Siderite (FeCO3) 0.01%; Pyrolusite (MnO2) 2%; Hydrated iron oxides Fe2O3nH2O 0.2%; Graphite (Carbon) 0.01%; and Coal 2%. Fossil Fuels: Coal 10-8530 ppb; Coal in mercuriferous basins 20-300,000 ppb; Crude oils 20-2000 ppb; Petroleum crudes in mercuriferous belts 1900-21,000 ppb; Bitumens, solid hydrocarbons, asphalts, etc 2000-900,000 ppb. Mercury is released into the environment from volcanoes and hot springs. Of greater significance currently in Canada is the mercury liberated from the working and smelting of ores of copper, gold, lead, silver and zinc which normally contain traces of mercury. The average emissions of mercury stack losses for USA cinnabar (HgS) roasting operations was 2-3%. Maximum ground-level concn of Hg for 12 USA coal-fired power plants were 0.035-6.9 ug/cu m. Mercury (Hg) loss est from Canada fuel consumption and other Canadian sources: In 1974, approximately 12 ton Hg were discharged to the environment as a result of coal combustion. Approximately 90% was discharged to air as vapor, 9% was adsorbed onto fine particulate (controllable by particle-collecting devices) and approximately 1% remained in the bottom or grate ash. In general, industrial and domestic products, such as thermometers, batteries, and electrical switches which account for a significant loss of mercury to the environment, ultimately become solid waste in major urban areas. Anthropogenic sources of airborne mercury (Hg) may arise from the operation of metal smelters or cement manufacture. Water borne pollution may originate in sewage, metal refining operations, or most notably, from chloralkali plants. Twenty thousand tons of mercury are released into the environment each year by human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial release. Concentrated local discharges associated with industrial activities and waste disposal. Diffuse discharges generally associated with combustion of fuels containing mercury impurities. Mercury is released in various chemical forms. INADEQUATE & IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL MERCURY WASTES INCR MERCURY LEVELS IN WATER & ATMOSPHERE. MICROORGANISMS CONVERT ELEMENTAL MERCURY INTO METHYL MERCURY SALT (CH3HGCL) & DIMETHYL MERCURY, WHICH ESCAPE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. MOST OF THESE REACTIONS TAKE PLACE IN SEDIMENTS OF RIVER & OCEAN BEDS. MAJOR SOURCE OF MERCURY CONTAMINATION IS DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL MERCURY WASTES INTO WATER WHERE THE WASTES SETTLE AS SEDIMENT, ONLY TO BE RECYCLED INTO THE WATER & AIR. ENVIRONMENTAL ACCUMULATION: TWO CHARACTERISTICS, VOLATILITY & BIOTRANSFORMATION, MAKE HG SOMEWHAT UNIQUE AS ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICANT. ITS VOLATILITY ACCOUNTS FOR HIGH ATMOSPHERIC CONCN, 20 TO 200 UG/CU M NEAR AREAS CONTAINING HIGH SOIL LEVELS (10 PPM) AS COMPARED TO NORMAL ATMOSPHERIC CONCN OF 5 UG/CU M. GROUND WATER CONCN IN USA BELOW 1 PPB. IN YATSUSHIRO SEA & MINAMATA BAY, THE CROAKER (ARGYROSOMUS ARGENTATUS) WAS A GOOD INDICATOR OF HG POLLUTION. MERCURY MIGRATED FROM SEDIMENT TO THE CROAKER BY WAY OF SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER & ZOOPLANKTON. CONVERSION FROM INORGANIC TO METHYLMERCURY OCCURS AT THE STAGE OF ZOOPLANKTON. Aquatic Fate: In aquatic systems, mercury appears to bind to dissolved matter or fine particulates, while the transport of mercury bound to dust particles in the atmosphere or bed sediment particles in rivers and lakes is generally less substantial. Aquatic Fate:Mercury can be desorbed into the water column, transported by water (probably bound or chelated to some fine particles or dissolved substances), and redeposited on the bed sediment.Mercury bioaccumulates and concentrates in food chain. Concn may be as much as 10,000 times that of water. Bioconcentration factors of 63,000 for freshwater fish and 10,000 for salt water fish have been found. As the tissue concn approaches steady-state, net accumulation rate is slowed either by a reduction in uptake rate, possibly due to inhibition of membrane transport, or by an increase in depuration rate, possibly because of a saturation of storage sites, or both. Bioconcentration Factors for Mercury: Marine Plants 1,000; Marine Invertebrates 100,000; Marine Fish 1,670; Freshwater Plants 1,000; Freshwater Invertebrates 100,000; Freshwater Fish 1,000. Specimens (195) of higher fungi and their substrata collected in the mercury mining area of Amiata and around Siena (central Italy), were analyzed for their total mercury (Hg) content. Wood decomposers and many species of mycorrhizal fungi accumulated the metal at a very low rate; some mycorrhizal species and all the humus decomposers may accumulate up to 100 ug/g/l dry weight of Hg and in the least contaminated sites, up to 63 times as much Hg as the substratum. In mineralized areas, the concn factor rarely exceeded 1. The methylmercury content of 35 specimens (almost all edible), ranged between 0.01 and 3.7 mug/g/l dry weight. Fish can accumulate mercury (Hg) to very high levels because accumulation is rapid and elimination is slow. Predators achieve higher concn than do fish lower in the food chain. In Canadian freshwaters, the highest Hg levels are found in lake trout, pike and walleye. In the sea, high Hg concn are found in sharks, swordfish, tuna, and halibut. Acidification of a body of water might also increase mercury residues in fish even if no new input of mercury occurs, possibly because lower pH increases ventilation rate and membrane permeability, accelerates the rates of methylation and uptake, affects partitioning between sediment and water, or reduces growth or reproduction of fish. Mercury is predominantly particle bound in contaminated water ways. Volcanic exhalations: Soil air over mercury deposits 0-2000 ng/cu m; Soil and Glacial Deposits: Normal soils 20-150 ppb; Normal tills, glacial clay, sand, etc 20-100 ppb; Soils, tills, etc near mercury deposits, sulfide deposits, etc up to 250 ppm; Soil horizons (normal)- A (humic) 60-200 ppb, B 30-140 ppb, C 25v-150 ppb; Soil horizons (near mercury deposits)- A (humic) 200-1860 ppb, B 140-605 ppb, C 150-554 ppb. Approximate concn of all forms of mercury in the earth's crust is 80 ppb. Levels in eggs (440 samples) taken from Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom, ranged from 0 to 100 ug/kg with most of the values between 10 and 20 ug/kg. Levels in meat, meat products, and prepared meat products (318 samples from the United Kingdom) ranged from 0 to 50 ug/kg with most values lying between 10 and 20 ug/kg. Various kinds of cereal and flour (2,133 samples, taken from the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom) ranged from 0 to 20 ug/kg with most values being close to 3 ug/kg. Mercury levels in cereal products from the same countries (52 samples) ranged up to 50 ug/kg with most values close to 20 ug/kg. Vegetables and fruits (288 samples) from Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United Kingdom had mercury levels up to 50 ug/kg with most values close to 7 ug/kg. Tuna, 0.2 mg/kg (natural), 10.6 mg/kg (abnormal); eggs, 0.009 mg/kg (natural), 0.029 mg/kg (abnormal); cabbage, 0.09 mg/kg (natural), 0.57 mg/kg (abnormal). Tuna, 0.2 mg/kg (natural), 10.6 mg/kg (abnormal); eggs, 0.009 mg/kg (natural), 0.029 mg/kg (abnormal); cabbage, 0.09 mg/kg (natural), 0.57 mg/kg (abnormal). Marine plants 0.01-37 ppb fresh wt; terrestrial plants 0-40 ppb fresh wt; Terrestrial plants in vicinity of mercury deposits 200-30,000 ppb fresh wt. Mercury and its compounds occur naturally in trace amounts in plants growing in soils with low mercury concentrations (<500 ppb). Maximum levels for mercury are recommended at 0.5 ppm for plant tissue and 0.15 in soil. These recommendations reflect human effects rather than plant responses. Fish Concn (avg): 100-200 ng Hg/g fish (est) Fish and shellfish concn in the United States: Tuna (mainly canned) 0.24 ppm; Unclassified (mainly breaded, including fish sticks) 0.21 ppm; Shrimp 0.46 ppm; Flounder 0.10 ppm; Clams 0.05 ppm; Crabs/lobsters 0.25 ppm; Salmon 0.05 ppm; Oysters/scallops 0.04 ppm; Trout 0.42 ppm; Bass 0.21 ppm; Catfish 0.15 ppm; Sardines 0.06 ppm; Pike 0.61 ppm; Snapper 0.45 ppm; Whiting 0.05 ppm; All other classified 0.21 ppm. Mercury content in muscle tissue of British Columbia fish: Crabs (Squamish) 1.55-13.4 ppm; Crabs (Fraser Rvier Flats) 0.19 ppm; Crabs (West Vancouver) 0.14 ppm; Crabs (Tofino) 0.02 ppm; Dolly Varden (Carpenter Lake) 0.41-1.94 ppm; Dogfish (English Bay) 1.08 ppm; Flounder (Squamish) 1.00-1.42 ppm; Flounder (Fraser River Flats) 0.23 ppm; Flounder (Hecate Strait) 0.11 ppm; Herring (Squamish) 0.14-0.30 ppm; Herring (Prince Rupert) 0.07 ppm; Lake trout (Pinchi Lake) 2.86 ppm; Rainbow trout (Tezzeron Lake) 0.04 ppm. Concentrations in edible fish should not exceed 0.5 ppm. Living organisms: Marine animals; molluscs, fish, seals, etc 0.1-200 ppb; Terrestrial (freshwater) animals; fish, crayfish, etc 0.1-200 ppb; Terrestrial (land) animals; man, birds, etc 1-100 ppb. Mercury levels in milk products (81 samples from the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom) ranged from 0 to 40 ug/kg with a medium value of 6 ug/kg. The dominant food source of mercury in the human diet is fish and fish products. In terms of total mercury (Hg), the diet greatly exceeds other media, including air and water, as a source of human exposure and absorption of Hg. Accumulation of mercury in the terrestrial and aquatic food chains results in risks for man mainly through the consumption of: fish from contaminated waters; especially predator species, tuna fish, swordfish and other large oceanic fish even if caught a considerable distance off shore; other seafoods including muscles and crayfish; fish-eating birds and mammals; and eggs of fish eating birds. The intake of total dietary mercury (Hg) has been measured over a number of years for various age groups. The average daily intake over the period 1973 to 1982 has been in the range of 2000 to 7000 ng Hg for adults and up to 1000 ng Hg for toddlers and infants. The most recent figures (fiscal year 1981-82) were 3000 ng Hg for adults, 1000 ng Hg for toddlers, and less than 1000 ng Hg for infants. Assuming an ambient air level of 50 ng/cu m, the average daily intake of metallic mercury vapor would amount to 1 ug/day due to inhalation. The average daily intake of those sub-groups of the general population living in specially polluted areas is difficult to estimate with any accuracy. Daily intake from occupational exposure is almost impossible to estimate because of the wide variation in exposure conditions in industry. The concn of mercury in whole blood is a reasonable measure of the body-burden of Hg and thus is used for monitoring purposes. |
|
Drinking Water Impact |
The results of chemical analysis of water from the pump-out well, provided by SCM (Glidden Coatings and Resins Division), indicated the presence of mercury at < 0.001 ppm concn. Drinking Water (range): 5 to 100 ng Hg/l (est) Surface Water:The purest surface water (drinking quality) contains less than 30 ng/l based on over 700 samples collected from drinking reservoirs in the Federal Republic of Germany. Rivers believed to have low contamination, such as the Danube, and bodies of water such as the Boden Sea, have values close to 150 ng/l based on the analysis of 152 samples. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the mercury concn measured was approx 600 ng/l in a sample of potable water. Other Waters: In the Federal Republic of Germany, the mercury contamination was approx 400 ng/l in inland waters and between 100 and 1,800 ng/l in rivers. The amount of mercury in the oceans has been calculated as 70 million ton using a figure for total ocean volume of 1.37X10+9 cu km and taking the avg Hg content of ocean water as 50 ng/l. Natural Waters: Rainwater, snow 0.01-0.48 ppb; Normal stream, river, and lake waters 0.01-0.1 ppb; Coal mine waters (Donets Basin, USSR) 1-10 ppb; Stream and river waters near mercury deposits 0.5-100 ppb; Oceans and seas 0.005-5.0 ppb; Hot springs and certain mineral waters 0.01-2.5 ppb; Normal groundwaters 0.01-0.10 ppb; Groundwaters and mine waters near polymetallic sulfide deposits 1-1000 ppb; Oil field and other saline waters 0.1-230 ppb. The conversion, in aquatic environments, of inorganic mercury cmpd to methyl mercury implies that recycling of mercury from sediment to water to air and back could be a rapid process. |
|
Disposal |
At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Mercury is a poor candidate for incineration. Mercury (Hg) bearing brine purification muds from Hg cell process in chlorine production or Hg bearing wastewater treatment sludges from the production of Hg sulfide pigment is a poor candidate for incineration. Chemical Treatability of Mercury; Concentration Process: Biological treatment; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Respirometer study; Type of Wastewater Used: Synthetic wastewater; Influent concentration: 0-200 ppm; Results of Study: O2 uptake inhibited. Chemical Treatability of Mercury; Concentration Process: Biological treatment; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Laboratory scale; Type of Wastewater Used: Synthetic wastewater; Influent concentration: 5-10 ppm; Results of Study: 51-58% reduction. Chemical Treatability of Mercury; Concentration Process: Chemical Precipitation; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Pilot scale; Type of Wastewater Used: Domestic wastewater and pure compound; Influent concentration: 0.5 ppm at 4 gpm at pH= 7.0; Results of Study: High lime system- 70% reduction. Chemical Treatability of Mercury; Concentration Process: Chemical Precipitation; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Full scale, continuous flow; Type of Wastewater Used: Domestic wastewater; Results of Study: 9 ppb: 71% reduction with lime; 1.2 ppb: 25% reduction with lime. Chemical Treatability of Mercury; Concentration Process: Chemical Precipitation; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Pilot scale; Type of Wastewater Used: Synthetic wastewater; Results of Study: 500 ppb: 70% reduction with lime; 60 ppb: 94% reduction with alum; 50 ppb: 98% reduction with ferric chloride. Chemical Treatability of Mercury; Concentration Process: Activated carbon; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Unknown; Type of Wastewater Used: Unknown; Influent concentration: 10 ppb; Results of Study: 80% reduction achieved with carbon dose of 100 mg/l. PAC plus chelating agent. Chemical Treatability of Mercury; Concentration Process: Activated carbon; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Literature review; Type of Wastewater Used: Unknown; Results of Study: 80% reduction by PAC and Alum coagulation. Mercury is concentrated in the sludges from sewage treatment by a factor of several hundred to several thousand over the levels initially present in the raw sewage. A plant in northwestern Ontario is estimated to have discharged 9 tons of mercury into local waters, with effects traceable 200 miles downstream. |
|
Atmosphere |
Atmospheric Concn (avg): 2-10 ng Hg/cu m (est) The avg concn of mercury (Hg) in the general atmosphere in the USSR was 10 ng/cu m; 0-14 ng/cu m in non-industrialized regions of Japan; the lowest concn in Denver, USA was 2-5 ng/cu m; in San Francisco, USA, levels of 0.5-50 ng/cu m (depending greatly on the direction of the wind) were reported; airborne dust in New York City contained from 1 to 41 ng/cu m and outdoors concn ranged from 0 to 14 ng/cu m; and particle-bound Hg in air above Chicago ranged from 3 to 39 ng/cu m. Volcanic exhalations: Atmosphere 2-10 ng/cu m; Air over mercury deposits 30-1600 ng/cu m. Mercury vapor concn in the stack gas of large coal-fired power generating stations in Ontario were found to range from 40 to 80 ug/cu m. 50% of volatile form is mercury (Hg) vapor with sizeable portion of remainder being Hg(II) and methylmercury, 25 to 50% of Hg in water is organic. Hg in the environment is deposited and revolatilized many times, with a residence time in the atmosphere of at least a few days. In the volatile phase it can be transported hundreds of kilometers. |
 |
Alphabetical List of Compounds |
 |
List of Compounds by CAS Number |
 |
List of Services |
 |
Spectrum Laboratories Homepage |
