Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir, Tan Mei Shin, Alvin Chua, Mohd Zaim Mohd Nor, Muhamad Ikram A. Wahab, Tay Kheng Soo, Mohd Aftar Abu Bakar, Noratiqah Mohd Ariff, Mohd Fadzil Firdzaus Mohd Nor
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that poses significant risks to human health and ecosystems. In its dominant atmospheric form, gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), it can travel long distances, contributing to widespread environmental contamination. This study investigates GEM levels in ambient air across urban, suburban, rural, and industrial areas in Peninsular Malaysia using both in situ and continuous measurement methods. Results show GEM concentrations ranging from a minimum of 4.8 to a maximum of 28.9 ng m⁻3, with the highest levels observed in industrial areas such as Pasir Gudang (28.9 ng m⁻3) and Shah Alam (18.6 ng m⁻3). Health risk assessments (HRA), conducted for different age groups, indicated that GEM concentrations were below the threshold for non-carcinogenic health risks (HQ < 1). These findings highlight the urgent need for long-term monitoring to assess mercury pollution and inform Malaysia’s commitment to the Minamata Convention. The study underscores the importance of continuous GEM monitoring to bridge knowledge gaps in mercury’s spatial and temporal distribution, especially in tropical regions.
汞（Hg）是一种全球性污染物，对人类健康和生态系统构成重大风险。汞在大气中的主要形式是气态元素汞（GEM），它可以传播很远的距离，造成广泛的环境污染。本研究使用原位和连续测量方法调查了马来西亚半岛城市、郊区、农村和工业区环境空气中的GEM水平。结果显示，在巴西古当（28.9 ng m - 3）和沙阿拉姆（18.6 ng m - 3）等工业地区，GEM的浓度最低为4.8 ng m - 3，最高为28.9 ng m - 3。对不同年龄组进行的健康风险评估（HRA）表明，GEM浓度低于非致癌健康风险阈值（HQ < 1）。这些发现突出表明，迫切需要进行长期监测，以评估汞污染，并为马来西亚对《水俣公约》的承诺提供信息。该研究强调了持续监测全球监测的重要性，以弥合关于汞时空分布的知识差距，特别是在热带地区。
期刊介绍：
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments.
Articles should not be submitted that are of local interest only and do not advance international knowledge in environmental pollution and solutions to pollution. Articles that simply replicate known knowledge or techniques while researching a local pollution problem will normally be rejected without review. Submitted articles must have up-to-date references, employ the correct experimental replication and statistical analysis, where needed and contain a significant contribution to new knowledge. The publishing and editorial team sincerely appreciate your cooperation.
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.
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