256
R. Ferrara et al.
mineralized district. For the first time, thanks to the use of the laser spectroscopy
technique (LIDAR), it was possible to determine the emission flux, which proved
to be 66 glh (estimated value 100 g/h; July 1995). The results of this study show
that remediation operations are absolutely necessary in the zone of the
abandoned mine complex, particularly considering their position on the outskirts
of the village. High air mercury concentrations (1700 ng/m3) in the zones where
the old furnaces once stood, now covered by thick vegetation, demonstrate the
difficulty of designing a cleanup project that would be capable of significantly
reducing the presence of the metal in the area.
The high air mercury concentrations (200-2200 ng/m 3 ) measured inside some
restored buildings now used for commercial activities require a health inspection
program that should include an initial survey of the workers and technical
interventions on the buildings.
These results also show the poor effectiveness of the decontamination work
done on the buildings and the complexity of the cleanup work on the abandoned
mining complex.
At present, a remediation project is under study that calls for removing the top
layer of earth (to a maximum depth of 7 m in the zones of the first roasting
ovens) and transporting the material to a specially designed dump.
However, we feel that this remediation strategy might prove to be both costly
and ineffective as mercury might be found in greater amounts deeper down due
to seepage phenomena.
References
Bargagli R (1990) Mercury emissions in an abandoned mining area: assessment by epiphytic lichens.
In: Cheremisinoff PN (ed) Encyclopedia of environmental control technology, vol IV. Gulf
Publishing Company, Houston, Texas, pp 613-640
Edner H, Fredriksson K, Sunesson A, Svanberg S, Uneus L, Wendt W (1987) Mobile remote sensing
system for atmospheric monitoring. Appl Opt 26:4330-4338
Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S, Wallinder E, Ferrara R, Maserti BE, Bargagli R (1993) Atmospheric
mercury mapping in the cinnabar mine area. Sci Total Environ 133:1-15
Ferrara R, Maserti BE, Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S, Wallinder E (1992) Atmospheric mercury
determinations by LIDAR and point monitors in environmental studies. In: Merian E, Haerdi W
(eds) Metal compounds in environment and life, vol IV. Science and Technology Letters.
Northwood, UK pp 29-38
Ferrara R, Maserti BE, De Liso A, Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S, Wallinder E (1994) Could the
geothermal power plant at Mt. Amiata (Italy) be a source of mercury contamination? In: Watras CJ,
Huckabee JW (eds) Mercury pollution integration and synthesis. Lewis, Boca Raton, pp 601-607
Ferrara R, Maserti BE, Andersson M, Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S (1997) Mercury degassing
rate from mineralized area in the Mediterranean basin. Water Air Soil Pollut 93:59-66
Ferrara R, Mazzolai B, Edner H, Svanberg S, Wallinder E (1998) Atmospheric mercury sources in the
Mt. Amiata area, Italy. Sci TOTAL ENVIRON 213=13-23
Kosta L, Ravnik V, Dermelj M, Pi/har B, Stegnar P, Byrne AR, Lokar J, Vakselj A, Novak J, Prosenc A
(1978) Vestn Slov Chern Soc (SKD) Ljubljana 25:463-493
Kvietkus K, Sakalys J (1994) Diurnal variations in mercury concentration in the ground layer
atmosphere. In: Watras CJ, Huckabee JW (eds) Mercury pollution integration and synthesis. Lewis,
Boca Raton, pp 243-250
R. Ferrara et al.
mineralized district. For the first time, thanks to the use of the laser spectroscopy
technique (LIDAR), it was possible to determine the emission flux, which proved
to be 66 glh (estimated value 100 g/h; July 1995). The results of this study show
that remediation operations are absolutely necessary in the zone of the
abandoned mine complex, particularly considering their position on the outskirts
of the village. High air mercury concentrations (1700 ng/m3) in the zones where
the old furnaces once stood, now covered by thick vegetation, demonstrate the
difficulty of designing a cleanup project that would be capable of significantly
reducing the presence of the metal in the area.
The high air mercury concentrations (200-2200 ng/m 3 ) measured inside some
restored buildings now used for commercial activities require a health inspection
program that should include an initial survey of the workers and technical
interventions on the buildings.
These results also show the poor effectiveness of the decontamination work
done on the buildings and the complexity of the cleanup work on the abandoned
mining complex.
At present, a remediation project is under study that calls for removing the top
layer of earth (to a maximum depth of 7 m in the zones of the first roasting
ovens) and transporting the material to a specially designed dump.
However, we feel that this remediation strategy might prove to be both costly
and ineffective as mercury might be found in greater amounts deeper down due
to seepage phenomena.
References
Bargagli R (1990) Mercury emissions in an abandoned mining area: assessment by epiphytic lichens.
In: Cheremisinoff PN (ed) Encyclopedia of environmental control technology, vol IV. Gulf
Publishing Company, Houston, Texas, pp 613-640
Edner H, Fredriksson K, Sunesson A, Svanberg S, Uneus L, Wendt W (1987) Mobile remote sensing
system for atmospheric monitoring. Appl Opt 26:4330-4338
Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S, Wallinder E, Ferrara R, Maserti BE, Bargagli R (1993) Atmospheric
mercury mapping in the cinnabar mine area. Sci Total Environ 133:1-15
Ferrara R, Maserti BE, Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S, Wallinder E (1992) Atmospheric mercury
determinations by LIDAR and point monitors in environmental studies. In: Merian E, Haerdi W
(eds) Metal compounds in environment and life, vol IV. Science and Technology Letters.
Northwood, UK pp 29-38
Ferrara R, Maserti BE, De Liso A, Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S, Wallinder E (1994) Could the
geothermal power plant at Mt. Amiata (Italy) be a source of mercury contamination? In: Watras CJ,
Huckabee JW (eds) Mercury pollution integration and synthesis. Lewis, Boca Raton, pp 601-607
Ferrara R, Maserti BE, Andersson M, Edner H, Ragnarson P, Svanberg S (1997) Mercury degassing
rate from mineralized area in the Mediterranean basin. Water Air Soil Pollut 93:59-66
Ferrara R, Mazzolai B, Edner H, Svanberg S, Wallinder E (1998) Atmospheric mercury sources in the
Mt. Amiata area, Italy. Sci TOTAL ENVIRON 213=13-23
Kosta L, Ravnik V, Dermelj M, Pi/har B, Stegnar P, Byrne AR, Lokar J, Vakselj A, Novak J, Prosenc A
(1978) Vestn Slov Chern Soc (SKD) Ljubljana 25:463-493
Kvietkus K, Sakalys J (1994) Diurnal variations in mercury concentration in the ground layer
atmosphere. In: Watras CJ, Huckabee JW (eds) Mercury pollution integration and synthesis. Lewis,
Boca Raton, pp 243-250