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Mercury Concentrations in Soils Adjacent to a Former Chlor-Alkali Plant

Dep. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geological Sciences Program, Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA 23529;

M. S. Iwashchenko

EMS Environmental, Durham, NC 27703.

^* Corresponding author (jrule{at}odu.edu).

ABSTRACT

The mean soil mercury (Hg) concentration (1.060 mg^–1) for samples collected within 2 km of a former chlor-alkali plant (National Priority List 418) in Saltville, VA, was determined to be approximately 17 times higher than regional background soil samples (0.063 mg kg^–1). Anomalous values as defined by the mean of the regional background plus three standard deviations were found at all but one of 28 sampling sites within a 2-km radius from the former chlor-alkali plant. Soil organic C, topographic factors, wind patterns, and elevation were variables significantly related to Hg concentration as determined by analysis of data by multiple regression. Soil Hg levels decreasing with distance from the former plant were indicative of a point source distribution pattern. A made land soil type (Udorthent), which appears to be a by-product of the chlor-alkali manufacturing process, was found proximal to the former plant site and contained about 68 times (4.310 mg kg^–1) more Hg than the regional background concentration. The significant environmental Hg contamination is likely to remain in the Saltville ecosystem for a very long time due to continued emissions from waste ponds. The range of contamination, especially downwind of the plant site, most probably extends well beyond the bounds of the present study area.