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Briggs CW, Fine R, Markee M, et al. Investigation of the potential for mercury release from flue gas desulfurization solids applied as an agricultural amendment. J Environ Qual. 2014;43(1):253-62doi: 10.2134/jeq2012.0049.
Briggs, C. W., Fine, R., Markee, M., & Gustin, M. S. (2014). Investigation of the potential for mercury release from flue gas desulfurization solids applied as an agricultural amendment. Journal of environmental quality, 43(1), 253-62. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2012.0049
Briggs, Christian W, et al. "Investigation of the potential for mercury release from flue gas desulfurization solids applied as an agricultural amendment." Journal of environmental quality vol. 43,1 (2014): 253-62. doi: https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2012.0049
Briggs CW, Fine R, Markee M, Gustin MS. Investigation of the potential for mercury release from flue gas desulfurization solids applied as an agricultural amendment. J Environ Qual. 2014 Jan;43(1):253-62. doi: 10.2134/jeq2012.0049. PMID: 25602558.
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J Environ Qual. 2014 Jan;43(1):253-62. doi: 10.2134/jeq2012.0049.

Investigation of the potential for mercury release from flue gas desulfurization solids applied as an agricultural amendment.

Journal of environmental quality

Christian W Briggs, Rebekka Fine, Melissa Markee, Mae Sexauer Gustin

PMID: 25602558 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2012.0049

Abstract

The potential for beneficial use of flue gas desulfurization-derived gypsum (FGDG), a coal combustion byproduct, as an agricultural soil amendment is currently being debated. This study investigated the hypothesis that Hg released to air from FGDG will be reduced when amended to planted and bare soils. The potential for enhanced methylmercury (MeHg) production and Hg uptake by plants in soils amended with FGDG was also investigated. Flue gas desulfurization-derived gypsum from three sources was homogenized into three soils at 4.5, 45, and 170 t ha and applied at 4.9 t ha as a thin layer to simulate tilled and no-till applications, respectively. Twenty-four-hour Hg flux was measured from unamended and FGDG-amended soils on a seasonal time step over 1 yr and after disturbing, watering, and planting. Methylmercury in soil, irrigation drainage, and total Hg in plant tissues were quantified. Results should be interpreted within the confines of the experimental setting and materials used for this study. Total Hg concentrations in soils, homogenized with FGDG, were below that considered representative of soil with background values (<100 ng g). Emissions from amended soils were higher initially relative to unamended soils but became similar over time. Significantly less Hg (2%) was lost to the air from FGDG-amended soils (90 g FGDG added for lowest application) than that released from the FGDG alone (30-70%) (50 g FGDG) over 1 yr. Total Hg and MeHg in irrigation drainage and total Hg concentrations measured in plants were similar for amended and unamended soils.

Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

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