MERCURY CONTAMINATION IN ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT

Abstract

Fossil fuels combustion has been widely known of their emission containing various heavy
metals and gaseous substances. This study is to investigate the distribution of mercury (Hg) in environmental
media surrounding the lignite coal-fired power plant in Lampang province, Thailand. Samples of surface soil
and waters were collected within the vicinity of the power plant in order to analyze mercury contamination.
Also, Hazard Quotient (HQ) will be determined to estimate environmental potential risks in this area of
concern. Mercury contents in surface soil samples were observed in the range of 65 – 1338 µg/kg. The results
also revealed that the distribution of mercury contamination in surface soils partly correlate with monsoon
domination or distance from the power plant. Some samples of surface water and ground water in this area
contained mercury concentration in the range of 0.1 µg/l – 0.2 µg/l. These mercury contents were further
considered for environmental potential risks by HQ calculation. The environmental potential risks of mercury
content in surface soil samples and water samples were classified as no environmental hazard (HQ < 1).