Increasing mercury contents are reported from freshwater systems and fish in northern Europe and North America. Mercury input from soils is a major source with the leaching being affected by increased atmospheric mercury deposition compared to pre-industrial times and by other environmental conditions such as acid rain. The results of a mathematical model-calculation of vertical inorganic Hg(II) leaching in a Scandinavian iron-humus podzol under different atmospheric input rates of mercury are presented. Leaching under background rain conditions was calculated to be considerably stronger than under acid rain conditions. Increasing fractions of deposited soluble or solute atmospheric mercury were leached from the Of₍ₕ₎-horizon with decreasing soil content of soluble mercury under acid rain conditions; this effect was less pronounced under background rain conditions. The steady state concentrations of soluble mercury of the upper soil horizons were calculated and compared with the actual concentrations of total (= soluble + insoluble mercury) and extractable (= estimate of soluble) mercury measured in these horizons. The results indicate that even if the deposition of airborne mercury to soil is strongly reduced, the total mercury content of the soil decreases only slowly. It may take decades or even centuries before a new steady state concentration of total mercury is established in the soil. The decrease of the mercury concentration in the Of₍ₕ₎-horizon is probably largely dependent on the turnover of organic matter, binding most of the deposited airborne mercury in an insoluble form. Hence, present day mercury leaching is likely to be dominated by mercury deposited during former times and temporarily retained in an insoluble form in the organic matter.

The discharge of acidic mine drainage waters onto a hillslope in Dalarna, central Sweden, has lead to the contamination of the podzol soils with Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and sulfate. Samples from contaminated and reference soils have been collected for chemical and mineralogical analyses. Jarosite is identified by x-ray diffraction analysis as a precipitate in the upper horizons (A, E, B) of the contaminated soils, where the soil acidity (pHKCₗ ∼ 2.6) promotes jarosite stability. The sequential chemical extraction of soil samples indicates that, in the reference A horizon, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn are bound primarily to cation exchange sites and organic matter. In the A horizon of the contaminated soils closest to the rock dump, metal partitioning is dominated by the Fe oxide fractions, despite the high organic matter content; Pb is almost completely bound to crystalline Fe oxides, possibly adsorbed to Fe oxides or occuring in a jarosite solid solution. In the reference B and C horizons, Cu, Ni and Zn are primarily adsorbed/coprecipitated in the Fe oxide fractions, while Pb remains with a large fraction bound to organic matter. In the Fe-rich B horizon of the contaminated soils, the partitioning of the metals in cation exchange sites and to organic matter has greatly increased relative to the reference soils, resulting from the mobilization of organo-metal complexes down the profile.

A study was carried out recently to determine the pollution level of waters in the Karachi harbour and adjoining backwaters. Nine locations were selected, four in the backwaters, two on the seaside, and three in the main navigable channel. Four of these locations were deliberately selected to coincide with those of a previous study conducted in 1982 by Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) so that the values for the concentration of different pollutants could be compared. Analysis was conducted for pH, bicarbonates, Total Solids, Volatile matter in Total Solids, Chlorides, Sulphates, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium.The results indicate that the composition of sea water as far as the concentration of above constituents is concerned has not changed much since the time of the PCSIR study, viz 1982, except that the organic matter concentration has increased. The reasons for this increase in organic loading and its possible impact are discussed in this paper.

Sandy soils, in the border area of Belgium and the Netherlands (the Kempen region), are heavily contaminated by atmospheric deposition of cadmium and zinc from nearby smelters. Groundwater contamination by leaching from these low retention soils is subject of study. There are reports of high cadmium and zinc concentrations in groundwater in the area, but in most cases the direct sources are unknown. In an attempt to predict present or future risk of groundwater contamination by soil leaching, metal binding processes (retardation) were studied that are specific for these soil types under the existing acidifying conditions. From four fields nine contaminated profiles were sampled and analyzed for cadmium and zinc. Average concentrations of 131μg g⁻¹ zinc and 1.6μg g⁻¹ cadmium with maximum values of 2989μg g⁻¹ respectively 16.3μg g⁻¹ were found. In addition pH and contents of organic matter, aluminium, iron, and manganese were determined. The relative importance of these soil parameters for metal retardation is derived from the profiles. The data show that organic matter is the most important soil component for binding cadmium and zinc. Adsorption of cadmium and zinc on aluminium, iron and manganese (hydr) oxides appears to be of minor importance at low pH (<5.5).

A study was carried out recently to determine the pollution level of waters in the Karachi harbour and adjoining backwaters. Nine locations were selected, four in the backwaters, two on the seaside, and three in the main navigable channel. Four of these locations were deliberately selected to coincide with those of a previous study conducted in 1982 by Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) so that the values for the concentration of different pollutants could be compared. Analysis was conducted for pH, bicarbonates, Total Solids, Volatile matter in Total Solids, Chlorides, Sulphates, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium.The results indicate that the composition of sea water as far as the concentration of above constituents is concerned has not changed much since the time of the PCSIR study, viz 1982, except that the organic matter concentration has increased. The reasons for this increase in organic loading and its possible impact are discussed in this paper.

Analysis of spatial distribution of sewage-sludge born cadmium on the experimental plot revealed positive correlation of total cadmium and organic matter. Soil pH fluctuated randomly on the field. ‘Bioavailable’ concentrations, as determined by NH₄-acetate extraction, were closely correlated to the total cadmium levels, and only negligible effects of pH and/or organic matter fluctuations were recorded. Desorption model using modified Freundlich isotherm was applied to predict risks of cadmium solubilization at different conditions. Simulations revealed that the organic matter content within the ranges found at the experimental field cannot support a proper immobilization of cadmium at pH-range observed at the field. The phenomenon was explained by ineffective care for the soil in the past.

Total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were determined in sediments and in the polychaete wormNereis diversicolor at 13 stations of a brackish water intertidal mudflat of the Scheldt estuary. Hg and MeHg concentrations in sediments ranged from 144 to 1192 ng g⁻¹ dw and from 0.8 to 6 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively. Both Hg and MeHg concentrations increased with an increase of organic matter (OM) content and fine grain fraction. In contrast, Hg accumulation byN. diversicolor was significantly (p<0.05) higher at stations with sandy sediments (mean value: 125 ng g⁻¹ dw) than at stations with muddy sediments (mean value, 80 ng g⁻¹), probably because Hg availability for bioaccumulation at muddy stations was reduced by high OM content of the muddy sediments. MeHg accounted for an average of 0.7% of the total Hg in sediments and 18% of the total Hg inN. diversicolor. Seasonal variations significantly affected Hg concentrations in sediments and MeHg inN. diversicolor. Total Hg concentrations in sediments were significantly (p<0.05) higher in autumn and winter than in spring and summer whereas MeHg concentrations were lowest in winter compared to the other seasons. On the other hand, total Hg concentrations in the worms were lowest in spring whereas MeHg concentrations were significantly (p<0.01) higher in spring and summer than in autumn and winter.