Characterizing Dry Deposition of Mercury in Urban Runoff

Fulkerson, Mark; Nnadi, Fidelia N.; Chasar, Lia S.

Characterizing Dry Deposition of Mercury in Urban Runoff

2007

Fulkerson, Mark | Nnadi, Fidelia N. | Chasar, Lia S.

Stormwater runoff from urban surfaces often contains elevated levels of toxic metals. When discharged directly into water bodies, these pollutants degrade water quality and impact aquatic life and human health. In this study, the composition of impervious surface runoff and associated rainfall was investigated for several storm events at an urban site in Orlando, Florida. Total mercury in runoff consisted of 58% particulate and 42% filtered forms. Concentration comparisons at the start and end of runoff events indicate that about 85% of particulate total mercury and 93% of particulate methylmercury were removed from the surface before runoff ended. Filtered mercury concentrations showed less than 50% reduction of both total and methylmercury from first flush to final flush. Direct comparison between rainfall and runoff at this urban site indicates dry deposition accounted for 22% of total inorganic mercury in runoff.

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