MECHANISTIC STEPS IN THE PHOTOREDUCTION OF MERCURY IN NATURAL-WATERS

Authors
NRIAGU JO
Citation
Jo. Nriagu, MECHANISTIC STEPS IN THE PHOTOREDUCTION OF MERCURY IN NATURAL-WATERS, Science of the total environment, 154(1), 1994, pp. 1-8
Citations number
55
Categorie Soggetti
Environmental Sciences
Journal title
Science of the total environment → ACNP
ISSN journal
00489697
Volume
154
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
1 - 8
Database
ISI
SICI code
0048-9697(1994)154:1<1:MSITPO>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
Elemental mercury accounts for 10-50% of the dissolved mercury in lake s but plays a vital role in the cycling of this element in lacustrine environments. The view is advanced that a large fraction of the Hg(0) is generated by photochemical reactions in the surface waters. Possibl e mechanisms for the Hg(0) production are discussed including homogene ous photolysis of dissolved Hg species and photoreduction processes in volving organic molecules and inorganic particulates in water.