Abstract

An exploratory series of measurements or estimates of mercury in biomatter and soils has been made for 29 locations around Australia. The average biomatter mercury concentration measurement was 153 ng g{-1} and the average soil mercury measurement was 137 ng g{-1}. By applying the measured mercur... Show moreAn exploratory series of measurements or estimates of mercury in biomatter and soils has been made for 29 locations around Australia. The average biomatter mercury concentration measurement was 153 ng g{-1} and the average soil mercury measurement was 137 ng g{-1}. By applying the measured mercury concentrations to bushfire fuel zones with an estimated burning frequency we have made a calculation of the Australian contribution of mercury to the atmosphere from biomatter burning. The preliminary estimate is that approximately 129 tonnes are contributed each year to the atmosphere, making it about 1.85% of the estimated global budget. This is nine times the industrial contribution declared in the Australian National Pollutant Inventory. The errors involved in attempting to sample on this continental scale are extensive and will be at least +/- 50% but could even be as much as +/- 100%. Show less