Longitudinal occurrence of methylmercury in terrestrial ecosystems of the Tibetan Plateau.

Methylmercury (MeHg), a neurotoxin, is a global concern because of its potential risk to human and ecological health. Elevated mercury (Hg) concentrations were recently reported in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) due to increasing Hg input from distant regions, yet little is known about MeHg production and distribution in the terrestrial ecosystems of the TP. Here, we report longitudinal occurrence of MeHg and the factors regulating net MeHg production in 23 grassland sites from eastern to western TP. The soil MeHg content varied from 0.002 to 0.058 ng g-1, with different distribution patterns between the eastern and western TP. There was a positive correlation between the MeHg concentration and the longitude after 90 °E, which is similar to the distribution patterns of the total mercury (THg), water and organic carbon in this region. Average MeHg concentration in topsoil is generally higher than that in subsoil. Our results show that MeHg concentration in soils of the TP is directly affected by soil water, potential microbial methylators and THg, while indirectly regulated by soil organic carbon through the microbial community and the longitude-dependent precipitation through soil water. Our study suggests that soil water is the most important driver regulating net MeHg production in the grasslands of the TP. These findings have important implications for unraveling the mechanism of net production of MeHg in high-altitude environments.

[Mercury Transport from Glacier to Runoff in Typical Inland Glacial Area in the Tibetan Plateau].

To investigate the transport of mercury from glacier to runoff in typical inland glacial area in the Tibetan Plateau, we selected Zhadang glacier and Qugaqie river Basin located in the Nyainqentanglha Range region and collected samples from snow pit, glacier melt-water and Qugaqie river water during 15th August to 9'h September 2011. Mercury speciation and concentrations were determined and their distribution and controlling factors in different environmental compartments were analyzed. The results showed that the average THg concentrations were (3.79 +/- 5.12) ng x L(-1), (1.06 +/- 0.77) ng x L(-1) and (1.02 +/- 0.24) ng x L(-1) for glacier snow, glacier melt-water and Qugaqie river water, respectively, all of which were at the global background levels. Particulate-bound mercury accounted for large proportion of mercury in all environmental matrices, while mercury in glacial melt-water was controlled by total suspended particle, and mercury in Qugaqie river water co-varied with runoff. With the increase of temperature, glacier melted and released water as well as mercury into glacier-fed river. Total mercury concentrations in glacier melt water, upstream and downstream peaked at 14:00, 16:00 and after 20:00, respectively, reflecting the process of mercury release from glacier and its subsequent transport in the glacier fed river. The transport of riverine mercury was controlled by multiple factors. Under the context of climate change, glacier ablation and the increasing runoff will play increasingly important roles in mercury release and transport.

[Spatial and temporal distribution of total mercury (T-Hg) in different water bodies of Nam Co, Tibetan Plateau].

To investigate the tempo-spatial distribution of total mercury (T-Hg) concentration in water bodies in the Nam Co basin on the Tibetan Plateau, inflowing river water and surface lake water samples were collected from 2007 to 2010. The T-Hg concentration and its relationship with precipitation and river runoff were analyzed. The results showed that the average T-Hg concentration was (1.09 +/- 0.73) ng x L(-1) and (2.87 +/- 2.59) ng x L(-1) for surface lake water and river water, respectively, both of which were significantly lower than those of Hg contaminated waters. T-Hg concentration in off-shore lake water was much higher during the monsoon season than in the non-monsoon season, and its level and spatial variation were significantly greater than those in central lake water. T-Hg concentration in river water showed significant seasonal variations with the highest values during the monsoon season and the lowest during the post-monsoon season, which were in accordance with the variations of precipitation. A fixed point observation at Niyaqu River indicated that the temporal changes of the T-Hg concentrations in river water were in accordance with those of the runoff. The spatial distribution features of T-Hg concentrations in inflowing river water varied in different periods, possibly resulting from the differences in drainage areas, background mercury levels in soils, and water supplies for rivers at different locations of the Nam Co basin.

[Temporal and spatial variations of major ions in Nam Co Lake water, Tibetan Plateau].

In order to investigate the temporal and spatial variations, sources, and major controlling factors of the major ions in Nam Co Lake water, inshore surface water samples were collected at a fixed site (30 degrees 47.27'N, 90 degrees 58.53'E, 4718 m a. s. l.) from 2006 to 2010, at the vertical profiles in the center of the lake in August 2009, and at both the vertical profiles in the center of the lake and at the surface layers of different sites in the Nam Co Lake in October 2010. The results indicated that Na+ was the dominant cation and HCO3- was the dominant anion in the lake water. The concentrations of most ions were higher in monsoon seasons (June - September) and lower in non-monsoon seasons, especially when the lake was frozen (January -April). However, the Ca2+ concentration showed a reverse trend of seasonal variations, namely, higher values in the frozen period and lower in monsoon seasons. Analysis of water samples collected from the vertical profiles indicated that the concentrations of all ions except Ca2+ increased with the depth in nonmonsoon seasons (e. g. October). The major ions in Nam Co Lake were mainly contributed by river input. There were a variety of factors that influenced the temporal and spatial variations of the major ions in the Nam Co Lake, such as evaporation, precipitation, pH values, etc., among which, evaporation was the most important controlling factor, causing the increasing Na+ concentration and decreasing Ca2+ concentration in the lake water.

[Indoor air pollution in the Nam Co and Ando Regions in the Tibetan Plateau].

Concentrations and variations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) within tents from the Nam Co and Ando regions were observed at summer 2009, in order to understand the concentrations and variations of PM2.5 and CO in these tents (or in rooms) and their main affect factors, as well as the exposure of different residents. The result indicates that the twenty-four hour average concentrations of PM2.5 and CO (V/V) in the tents without chimney are 1.272 mg x m(-3) and 5.035 x 10(-6), which are significantly higher than those of tents installed chimneys (0.097 mg x m(-3) and 0.089 x 10(-6)). Diurnal variations of PM2.5 and CO are similar and show multiple peaks, which is different with those in the eastern rural areas of China and closely connected with the behaviors of the residents within the tents. Generally, women and children spend three or four hours longer in tents than other family members every day. Children have the highest exposure of 0.972 mg x m(-3) and 0.132 x 10(-6) for PM2.5 and CO, respectively. Therefore, although the outdoor air in the Tibetan Plateau is very clean, the air of the Tibetan tents are seriously polluted and mainly caused by yak dung combustion.

[Microparticle variations in snowpits from Mt. Geladaindong in the source region of Yangtze River and its environmental significance].

To study the variations of microparticles and their origins, microparticles concentrations, stable oxygen isotope (delta18 O) and major ion concentrations were analyzed in snow samples collected from Mt. Geladaindong in the source region of Yangtze River. The correlation coefficents of different size microparticles in three snowpits are above 0.9 (significant at the 99% level), respectively. Microparticle concentrations have distinct seasonal variations, about 2-4 times higher in non-monsoon season than those in monsoon season, and are consistent with variations of delta18 O, Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO4(2-). Microparticle fluxes in non-monsoon season in three snowpits are 73.6%, 92.3% & 97% of total annual fluxes, respectively. Air mass backward trajectories over Mt. Geladaindong region were analyzed using the HYSPLIT_4 model, and microparticles in Mt. Geladaindong snow were mostly influenced by dust aerosols from the northwestern Tibetan Plateau, South Asia. Coarse particles may come from the local rocks near glaciers. Research of seasonality of microparticle in snow could provide the information on modern environment processes, and is the base of further interpretation of ice core records.

[Major ionic features and their sources in the Nam Co Basin over the Tibetan Plateau].

A preliminary study of major ions in water of three rivers (Niyaqu, Qugaqie, Angqu) in the Nam Co Basin has been carried out in June-October 2006. An obvious difference is found among these rivers, whose ionic characteristics are mainly influenced by the length of rivers and their supply sources. Among the three rivers, the contents of total dissolve solids (TDS) is 79.48 mg/L, 23.44 mg/L, and 111 mg/L in the Niyaqu, Qugaqie, and Angqu, respectively. The hydro-chemical type is CCa for the Qugaqie, between CNa and CCa for the Angqu, and between the Angqu and Qugaqie for the Qugaqie. Changes in ionic concentrations are also related with discharges of the rivers. According to principal component analysis and correlation analysis, the main chemical contents derive from Ca2+ and HCO3(-) in carbonate for the Niyaqu, glacier meltwater and carbonate for the Qugaqie, and Na+, Mg2+ and Cl(-) in evaporates for the Angqu.