Division: SSSA Division: Soil Chemistry

Title: Mercury in Soils: Patterns and Processes: I (includes student competition)

Lead Community Sponsor:
Cosponsor: Soils & Environmental Quality, Forest, Range & Wildland Soils, Urban and Anthropogenic Soils
Community Cosponsor:
Format: Oral Topical Session
Keywords: Hg accumulationHg cyclingHg retentionHg sorption

Session Description: Purpose: To describe the patterns of Hg accumulations in natural and urban soils and discuss relevant processes leading to its immobilization or mobilization.

Background: Mercury (Hg) is a global contaminant and threatens public health in developing and developed countries. Low concentrations can be hazardous threat to humans and wildlife because of its ability to bioaccumulate. Soils are critical in the global Hg cycle. Understanding the patterns and processes of Hg in soils is essential as they: (1) accumulate and release atmospheric Hg, (2) hold vast quantities of Hg in subsurface horizons and (3) may methylate Hg to its more toxic methyl-Hg form. This problem encompasses processes from molecular to landscape scale and thus requires many divisions of soil science to adequately address.

Reviewer's Comments: