Critical Limits for Hg(II) in soils, derived from chronic toxicity data

Tipping, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6618-6512; Lofts, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3627-851X; Hooper, H.; Frey, B.; Spurgeon, D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760; Svendsen, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7281-647X. 2010 Critical Limits for Hg(II) in soils, derived from chronic toxicity data. Environmental Pollution, 158. 2465-2471. 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.03.027

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2010.03.027

Abstract/Summary

Published chronic toxicity data for Hg(II) added to soils were assembled and evaluated to produce a data set comprising 52 chronic endpoints, five each for plants and invertebrates and 42 for microbes. With endpoints expressed in terms of added soil Hg(II) contents, Critical Limits were derived from the 5th percentiles of species sensitivity distributions, values of 0.13 μg (g soil)-1 and 3.3 μg (g soil organic matter)-1 being obtained. The latter value exceeds the currently-recommended Critical Limit, used to determine Hg(II) Critical Loads in Europe, of 0.5 μg (g soil organic matter)-1. We also applied the WHAM/Model VI chemical speciation model to estimate concentrations of Hg2+ in soil solution, and derived an approximate Critical Limit Function (CLF) that includes pH; log [Hg2+]crit = - 2.15 pH – 17.10. Because they take soil properties into account, the soil organic matter-based limit and the CLF provide the best assessment of toxic threat for different soils. For differing representative soils, each predicts a range of up to 100-fold in the dry weight-based content of mercury that corresponds to the Critical Limit.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.envpol.2010.03.027
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 3 - Managing Threats to Environment and Health > BGC - 3.2 - Provide the evidence base for setting Environment Quality Standards ...
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore Hails
ISSN:	0269-7491
Additional Keywords:	chemical speciation, critical limit, free ion concentration, mercury (II), organic matter, soil
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Ecology and Environment Chemistry
Date made live:	02 Aug 2010 10:46 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10405

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.envpol.2010.03.027

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 3 - Managing Threats to Environment and Health > BGC - 3.2 - Provide the evidence base for setting Environment Quality Standards ...

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Shore
Hails

ISSN:

0269-7491

Additional Keywords:

chemical speciation, critical limit, free ion concentration, mercury (II), organic matter, soil