Using Mercury Isotopic Signatures to Trace Steel Plant Atmospheric Emissions in Southern Italy

Abstract

Stable isotope ratio analyses of the non-traditional isotope, mercury (Hg), is a promising tool for source tracing as well as a quantitative approach to establish Hg fluxes from different sources. Distinct isotopic signatures can occur between different sources, and they can be exploited to identify pollution sources. Contamination by stack emissions of 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans of soil and vegetation near steel mills has been a concern throughout Europe and elsewhere. We used mercury stable isotope ratios to trace the transport and deposition of stack emissions from one of Europe’s largest steel mills, the ILVA Taranto Works, located in the city of Taranto in southern Italy.