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Characteristics of Mercury Pollution and Ecological Risk Assessment in Different Degraded Grasslands of the Songnen Plains, Northeastern China

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  • Zhaojun Wang

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Changchun 130117, China
    Z.W. and L.W. are co-first authors of the article.)

  • Lei Wang

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Changchun 130117, China
    Z.W. and L.W. are co-first authors of the article.)

  • Gang Zhang

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Changchun 130117, China
    Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
    Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130022, China)

  • Xu Li

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Xiangyun Li

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Yangjie Zhang

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Xuhang Zhou

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Ming Chen

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Tingting Xiao

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Zhili Feng

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Yue Weng

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Zhanhui Tang

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Changchun 130117, China)

  • Deli Wang

    (School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Changchun 130117, China
    Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
    Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130022, China)

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a global and widely distributed heavy metal pollutant. Mercury can affect human health as well as the health of ecosystems and poses ecological risks. The subjects of this study are three types of grassland in the Beidianzi region, Songnen Plains, Northeastern China, characterized by different degrees of degradation. The mercury content levels in the atmosphere, soil, and forage grass on the different grasslands were determined. In addition, the relationships between the mercury pollution levels in the atmosphere and soil, and the mercury distribution correlations between the soil and plants, were examined in detail. The potential risk index (RI), single factor index (PI), and ground accumulation index (Igeo) were used to evaluate the ecological risks. The results showed that the mercury content in the soils of three types of grassland exceeded the China national standard (GB36600-2018), and the soil mercury content in the moderately degraded grassland was the highest. The single factor index method and land accumulation index method showed that the three types of grassland were slightly polluted, while the potential risk index showed that the three types of grassland were severely polluted, and the potential risk index of the moderately degraded grassland was the highest. The potential risk index decreased with the increase of soil depth. The variation trend of atmospheric mercury content was lower in the morning and evening and higher in the afternoon. The potential risk index of atmospheric mercury indicated that all types of grassland were at severe risk. There was a significant positive correlation between atmospheric mercury and soil mercury. The mercury content in herbage increased with the increase of degradation. The BP neural network prediction model constructed had good accuracy and had certain reference value.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhaojun Wang & Lei Wang & Gang Zhang & Xu Li & Xiangyun Li & Yangjie Zhang & Xuhang Zhou & Ming Chen & Tingting Xiao & Zhili Feng & Yue Weng & Zhanhui Tang & Deli Wang, 2021. "Characteristics of Mercury Pollution and Ecological Risk Assessment in Different Degraded Grasslands of the Songnen Plains, Northeastern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10898-:d:647393
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Smit, H.J. & Metzger, M.J. & Ewert, F., 2008. "Spatial distribution of grassland productivity and land use in Europe," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 98(3), pages 208-219, October.
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