Effect of sources and meteorological conditions on the concentration and distribution of gaseous elemental mercury in the urban atmosphere

Atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and meteorological parameters were monitored at two sites in downtown Toronto, Canada from Oct. 2015 to Oct. 2016 using Tekran 2537A mercury vapour analyzers. The average concentration was found to be 1.78 ± 0.89 ng/m3 for Kerr Hall North (KHN) and 1.46 ± 0.54 ng/m3 for Jorgenson Hall (JOR) site. Analysis of the data reveals that sporadic events of high mercury concentration are related to local sources. Comparing this data set with that collected in 2004 revealed that the average atmospheric GEM concentration in downtown Toronto dropped from 4.5 ng/m3 to 1.78 ng/m3. Decreases in GEM were also observed over the same period in rural areas as measured by CAMNet. The decrease might be a result of policy change, as three key national and provincial environmental policies have been enacted since 2004. The data collected in Toronto suggest GEM concentration and distribution are influenced by local and regional sources, meteorological conditions, and changes in environmental policy.