Status and environmental management of soil mercury pollution in China: A review

Abstract

The harm from mercury pollution to human health and the environment has long been known. In recent years, the combination of industrial activities and long-term atmospheric transport has resulted in a sustained increase in mercury concentrations in soils. However, soil remediation and mercury-contaminated soil management in China are still in its infancy, and there is ample space for the development of related research. We systematically reviewed several pertinent topics and found that soil mercury pollution around mines and industrial soil in China is the most serious. The highest mercury content is found in the soil around the Tongren mercury mine in Guizhou Province and the thermometer factories. The average content of soil mercury is similar to that of atmospheric mercury emission in China. Mercury content in soil gradually decreases from the southeast to the northwest. In order to repair the mercury-contaminated soil, solidification and stabilization technology have been developed in China and applied in the engineering of restoration. In the future, we will study more effective stabilizer materials and select plants highly rich in mercury, to develop low-cost and high-repair-rate remediation technology. China has also developed a series of policies, regulations, and regulatory documents to manage mercury pollution, such as the Agricultural Land Standard and the Construction Land Standard. Compared with other countries, the screening values for soil mercury in China are relatively low. China has also established control standards for methylmercury in soils of residential and industrial land. In addition, China has issued emission standards and control notices related to the mercury industry. However, there are still shortcomings in soil remediation technology and environmental management systems for mercury pollution in China. In the future, China will formulate standards according to local conditions and improve the responsibility mechanism, financial mechanism, and level of public participation.

Keywords: Harm; Management; Mercury pollution; Soil; Treatment and remediation.