The Need for the Project

Hg is one of the most toxic metals. In the atmosphere, three forms of Hg exists: gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidised mercury (GOM), and particulate bound mercury (PBM). Currently, traceable calibration methods only exist for elemental mercury (Hg(0)). However, such measurements are also needed for oxidised Hg species, i.e. Hg(II) to meet the requirements of EU regulation and the implementation of the Minamata Convention. For the control and assessment of Hg concentrations in the environment, it is essential to be able to monitor all Hg species. Therefore, the main challenges of this project are:

1

the development of reliable and direct Hg(II) measurement techniques and reliable and traceable Hg(II) standards;

2

methods for accurately comparing the Hg^tot concentration in generated elemental and oxidised Hg reference gas standards;

3

to improve sampling methods, traceable reference standards, validated methods for the on-line measurement of Hg in the atmosphere and under field conditions, and a comparison of Hg species inter-conversion;

4

to trace the origin and fate of atmospheric Hg by using the Hg isotopic signatures.