Order-of-magnitude increase of Hg in Norwegian peat profiles since the outset of industrial activity in Europe

Peat cores from six ombrotrophic bogs at different latitudes in Norway (58°N–69°N) were analysed for Hg by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. In all cases a smooth decrease of Hg with depth was observed down to 15–20 cm. At greater depths Hg showed a relatively constant level of the order of 10% of that in the peat surface layer. In the surface peat Hg concentrations exhibit moderate variation with latitude. The pre-industrial levels of Hg in the peat correspond to a net annual Hg accumulation of 0.3–0.9 μg m−2. The Hg accumulation over the last 100 years is about 15 times higher on average than the pre-industrial level. The present work supports the view that a major part of the present atmospheric Hg in the Northern Hemisphere is of anthropogenic origin. It is speculated that the comparatively high Hg contemporary accumulation rates observed at the Andøya bog on 69°N may be related to the Arctic springtime depletion of Hg.