Gaseous mercury fluxes from forest soils in response to forest harvesting intensity: a field manipulation experiment.

Forest harvesting leads to changes in soil moisture, temperature and incident solar radiation, all strong environmental drivers of soil-air mercury (Hg) fluxes. Whether different forest harvesting practices significantly alter Hg fluxes from forest soils is unknown. We conducted a field-scale experiment in a northern Minnesota deciduous forest wherein gaseous Hg emissions from the forest floor were monitored after two forest harvesting prescriptions, a traditional clear-cut and a clearcut followed by biomass harvest, and compared to an un-harvested reference plot. Gaseous Hg emissions were measured in quadruplicate at four different times between March and November 2012 using Teflon dynamic flux chambers. We also applied enriched Hg isotope tracers and separately monitored their emission in triplicate at the same times as ambient measurements. Clearcut followed by biomass harvesting increased ambient Hg emissions the most. While significant intra-site spatial variability was observed, Hg emissions from the biomass harvested plot (180 ± 170 ng m(-2)d(-1)) were significantly greater than both the traditional clearcut plot (-40 ± 60 ng m(-2)d(-1)) and the un-harvested reference plot (-180 ± 115 ng m(-2)d(-1)) during July. This difference was likely a result of enhanced Hg(2+) photoreduction due to canopy removal and less shading from downed woody debris in the biomass harvested plot. Gaseous Hg emissions from more recently deposited Hg, as presumably representative of isotope tracer measurements, were not significantly influenced by harvesting. Most of the Hg tracer applied to the forest floor became sequestered within the ground vegetation and debris, leaf litter, and soil. We observed a dramatic lessening of tracer Hg emissions to near detection levels within 6 months. As post-clearcutting residues are increasingly used as a fuel or fiber resource, our observations suggest that gaseous Hg emissions from forest soils will increase, although it is not yet clear for how long such an effect will persist.

Scaling non-point-source mercury emissions from two active industrial gold mines: influential variables and annual emission estimates.

Open-pit gold mines encompass thousands of hectares of disturbed materials that are often naturally enriched in mercury (Hg). The objective of this study was to estimate annual non-point-source Hg emissions from two active gold mines in Nevada. This was achieved by measuring diel and seasonally representative Hg fluxes from mesocosms of materials collected from each mine. These measurements provided a framework for scaling emissions over space and time at each mine by identifying the important variables correlated with Hg flux. The validity of these correlations was tested by comparisons with measurements conducted in situ at the mines. Of the average diel fluxes obtained in situ (92 daily flux measurements), 81% were within the 95% prediction limits of the regressions developed from the laboratory-derived data. Some surfaces at the mines could not be simulated in the laboratory setting (e.g., material actively leached by cyanide solution and tailings saturated with cyanide solution), and as such in situ data were applied for scaling. Based on the surface areas of the materials and environmental conditions at the mines during the year of study, non-point-source Hg releases were estimated to be 19 and 109 kg·year(-1). These account for 56% and 14%, respectively, of the overall emissions from each mine (point + nonpoint sources). Material being heap-leached and active tailings impoundments were the major contributors to the releases (>60% combined) suggesting that as mining operations cease, releases will decline.

Measurement of surface mercury fluxes at active industrial gold mines in Nevada (USA).

Mercury (Hg) may be naturally associated with the rock units hosting precious and base metal deposits. Active gold mines are known to have point source releases of Hg associated with ore processing facilities. The nonpoint source release of Hg to the air from the large area (hundreds to thousands of hectares) of disturbed and processed material at industrial open pit gold mines has not been quantified. This paper describes the field data collected as part of a project focused on estimating nonpoint source emissions of Hg from two active mines in Nevada, USA. In situ Hg flux data were collected on diel and seasonal time steps using a dynamic flux chamber from representative mine surfaces. Hg fluxes ranged from <1500 ng m(-2) day(-1) for waste rock piles (0.6-3.5 µg g(-1)) to 684,000 ng m(-2) day(-1) for tailings (2.8-58 µg g(-1)). Releases were positively correlated with material Hg concentrations, surface grain size, and moisture content. Highest Hg releases occurred from materials under active cyanide leaching and from tailings impoundments containing processed high-grade ore. Data collected indicate that as mine sites are reclaimed and material disturbance ceases, emissions will decline. Additionally local cycling of atmospheric Hg (deposition and re-emission) was found to occur.

Sources of methylmercury to a wetland-dominated lake in northern Wisconsin.

Several lines of evidence suggest that wetlands may be a major source of methylmercury (MeHg) to receiving waters, perhaps explaining the strong correlation between concentrations of waterborne MeHg and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in regions such as northern Wisconsin. We evaluated the relative importance of wetland export in the MeHg budget of a wetland-dominated lake in northern Wisconsin using mass balance. Channelized runoff from a large headwater wetland was the major source of water and total mercury (HgT) to the lake during the study period. The wetland also exported MeHg in high concentrations (0.2-0.8 ng L(-1)), resulting in an export rate similar to those reported for other northern wetlands (ca. 0.3 microg MeHg m(-2) y(-1)). Yet, based on intensive sampling during 2002, the mass of MeHg that accumulated in the lake during summer was an order of magnitude greater than the export of MeHg from the wetland to the lake. Hence, a large in-lake source of MeHg is inferred from the mass balance. Most of the accumulated MeHg built-up in anoxic hypolimnetic waters; and the build-up was roughly balanced by losses of inorganic Hg (Hg(II)) implying a chemical transformation within the anoxic water column. An abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in hypolimnetic waters, established by DNA analysis of the pelagic microbial community, along with a previous report documenting high methylation rates in the hypolimnion of this lake (ca. 10% d(-1)), suggest that this transformation was microbially mediated. These findings indicate that the direct effect of wetland runoff may be outweighed by indirect effects on the lacustrine MeHg cycle, enhancing the load of Hg(II), the activity of SRB, and the retention of MeHg, especially in northern lakes with flushing times longer than six months.

Voice range in superior laryngeal nerve paresis and paralysis.

Evaluation of Physiologic Frequency Range (PFR) and Musical Frequency Range (MRP) of Phonation was performed on 56 adults (singers and nonsingers) presenting with superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) paresis or paralysis confirmed by laryngeal electromyography. The most common etiology was neuritis (69.7%), followed by iatrogenic and unknown causes,each accounting for 10.2% of cases, and finally trauma (8.9%). Both female and male singers with SLN paresis or paralysis had significantly higher PFR and MPR than nonsingers. Female classical singers presented PFR and MPR of up to 10 semitones (ST) higher than nonclassical singers and nonsingers. The lowest PFR and musical ranges were found in patients with SLN paresis associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis or paralysis. The authors suggest that voice range measurement is a useful parameter for analyzing the effects of SLN paresis or paralysis on voice and that it may also assist in measuring outcome following voice therapy.

Esophageal schistosomiasis in a patient with megaesophagus.

The authors report a case of schistosomiasis of uncommon location. A patient submitted to esophagectomy for Chagas' megaesophagus was found to have eggs of Schistosoma mansoni upon pathologic examination of the surgical specimen. The authors discuss the anatomopathological aspects of schistosomiasis, as well as its occurrence in other rare sites. To date, no references in literature have been found on the existence of esophageal schistosomiasis, and its association to Chagas' megaesophagus has never been described.

Neuroma of the chorda tympani nerve.

The authors present a case of Neuroma of the Chorda Tympani Nerve, which is extremely rare. Apparently, only two (2) cases have been reported to date. The initial manifestation was a hard tumor that occupied the posterior wall of the external auditory canal. There were no other symptoms.