Mercury in atmospheric aerosols: A preliminary case study for the city of Krakow, Poland

The level of contamination by mercury associated with airborne particulate matter in Krakow was determined. Samples of PM10 were collected on quartz filters using low-volume samplers. The total particulate mercury (TPM) concentrations in collected samples were determined by mercury analyser MA-3000 (Nippon Instruments Corporation). The reported results include also data on the carbonaceous aerosol and inorganic ions concentrations during the reported sampling campaign. The average concentration of the Total Particulate Mercury (TPM) in Krakow (Poland) was 0.22 ng·m−3 (during the period from 22 February to 2 March) and 0.49 ng·m−3 (on 3 March). A marked correlation between TPM and elemental carbon (EC) as well as with Cl– was found. No significant association of the TPM with NO3– and SO42– could be shown. The dry deposition flux of mercury was calculated as an average over the sampling period and was 47.3 ng·m−2·d−1.