The influence of forest fire on the gross mercury content in soddy podburs formed in typical foreststeppe conditions is studied. The metal concentration in the soils of the control area not affected ...by the fire is 0.063 ± 0.045 mg/kg at a depth of 0–10 cm, compared to 0.041 ± 0.008 mg/kg in soils of the burnt forest area. The relationship between the content of organic carbon and the amount of mercury in the top 20 cm of the soil profile of burnt areas has not been established (r = 0.26; p = 0.19). In the soils of the control plot, on the contrary, these indicators showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.74; p ≤ 0.05). The estimated amount of mercury released from the soil during a fire is 3 mg/m2 . The area of forest affected by fires in 2010 in the Voronezh Region was 15,910 ha. Thus, the amount of mercury released into the atmosphere as a result of the combustion of the upper soil layer is estimated at 477.3 kg.
The content of total mercury in organs and tissues (brain, muscles, kidneys, and liver) has been studied in common shrew and in common vole, living in different geomorphological regions of the ...Vologda Oblast. Mercury content is statistically significantly higher (2–5 times) in common shrew than in common vole. In common shrew, average mercury content (μg/g dry weight) decreases in the series: kidneys (0.158 ± 0.016) > liver (0.086 ± 0.01) > muscles (0.084 ± 0.011) > brain (0.059 ± 0.006); in common vole, kidneys (0.026 ± 0.003) > brain (0.024 ±0.004) > muscles (0.016 ±0.003) > liver (0.013 ± 0.002). Mercury content in organs of common shrew and of common vole, caught in the western geomorphological region with high swampiness and a large number of lakes, is statistically significantly higher (2–3 times) comparing to those captured in the eastern geomorphological region with a developed river network.
PDF