Latest Academic Works
Tracing mercury in the wider Idrija region using stable isotopes
Mercury, a toxic element, known for its physical and chemical properties, spreads throughout the environment and is found in various ecosystems, including water, air, soil, and biological systems. The natural mercury cycle begins beneath the earth's crust, where it rises to the surface and is released into the air through …
Temperature fractionation of mercury in the cement production process
Cement production is one of the main contributors to mercury emissions in to the atmosphere. Many national and international legal i nstruments aim to control and reduce Hg emissions. Hg enters the cement production process as an impurity in fuels and raw materials, with the latter being the main source …
Metrology of mercury measurements in the air
Atmospheric mercury (Hg) plays an important role in the biogeochemical Hg cycle. Hg species in the atmosphere are present in very low concentrations. While gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) is relatively inert, gaseous oxidized (GOM) and particulate-bound (PBM) mercury are highly reactive. These characteristics of atmospheric Hg species make the speciation …
Targeted analysis of organic contaminants, exposure assessment, and vulnerability of populations to hazardous compounds
From the moment of conception until death, humans are exposed to chemicals at varying intensities and frequencies. While an individual’s level of resilience is commonly high enough to tolerate these kinds of stressors, specific exposures or genetic predispositions can lower it. Therefore, the assessment of chemical exposure, the development of …
Speciation of mercury in environmental samples from gold mining communities in Southwestern Ghana
Gold miners (Artisanal and Small-Scale [ASGM]) operating in southwestern Ghana use exclusive mercury-gold amalgamation, cyanidation of gold-rich mercury-contaminated tailings, or a combination of both techniques during gold extraction; exposing water bodies within the catchment to mercury (Hg) and cyanide (CN) from mining discharged effluents. Additionally, sporadic CN spillage/leakage from Large …
Mercury exposure assessment in the Slovenian population
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic metals. Its toxicity depends on the route of exposure, on its chemical form and the dose to which a person is exposed. The most susceptible population are pregnant women and children. Epidemiological studies suggest neuropsychological dysfunctions in children who were prenatally exposed …
Mercury in the Process of Cement Clinker Production and Emission Control
Mercury is a very toxic element. Due to its volubility it is present everywhere in the environment at ambient temperature. High temperature processes increased levels of mercury on the global scale. Global and European action plans were established to reduce mercury emissions and remove mercury from the environment. Cement plants …
Mass Balance of Mercury in the Idrijca River Catchment
Mercury (Hg) pollution has been investigated in the area of the Idrija mercury mine, Slovenia, where the second largest mercury mine in the world operated for more then 500 years. Although the production of mercury at the Idrija mercury mine stopped in 1994, centuries of mining and ore processing operations …