Modelling of mercury and its compounds transport and transformations in heavy polluted land and river environment: Idrija mercury mine influence area

More than 500 years of mercury mining, left in Idrija and its influence area, very high mercury levels in all environmental compartmens, that influence humans health and ecosystem. Major aims of the proposed project are determination of main Hg sources, Hg exchange on soil/air, soil/water and water/air interfaces, and establishment of Hg and its compounds mass balance on Idrija region, Idrijca and Soča rivers catchment area, and Gulf of Trieste. Significance of different factors that influences Hg biogeochemical cycle in polluted land, and riverine environments, and interactions between them will be determined. Different factors will be presented in geoinformation system (GIS) layers. With that degree of Hg influence on humans health, in this area will be established. Modelling program tools and models will be developed and improved which will be in future important for environment impact assesment. Project results will contribute to fundamental knowledge about Hg biogeochemical cycle, on land and in water environments. Project results will also contribute to knowledge about Hg transport, and transformation processes on interfaces between different environmental compartments.