The impact of mercury mining on the Gulf of Trieste

Horvat M., Covelli S., Faganeli J., Logar M., Mandic V., Planinc R., Rajar R., Sirca A., Zagar D., 1998. The impact of mercury mining on the Gulf of Trieste. In: Environmental Coastal Regions (C.A. Brebbia Ed.), Computational Mechanics Publications/WIT Press, Southampton (UK), 11-20.
Abstract: 
The Idrija mine, Slovenia has severely enhanced the mobilisation of Hg by mining activities, and Hg-laden material remains in the region. The tailings and contaminated soils are continuously eroded and serve as continuous source for the river, the flood plains and the Gulf of Trieste. The paper presents data of the recent study which aims to assess the extent of contamination of Gulf of Trieste after the closure of the Hg mine. Mercury and methylmercury were measured in various environmental compartments (estuarine and marine waters, sediments and organisms) during 1995-97 period. Data obtained show that even 10 years after closure of the Hg mine, Hg concentrations in river sediments and water are still very high and did not show the expected decrease of Hg in the Gulf of Trieste. A provisional annual mercury mass balance was established for the Gulf of Trieste. A provisional annual mercury mass balance was established for the Gulf of Trieste showing that the major source of inorganic mercury is still the River Soca while the major source of methylmercury is the bottom sediment of the Gulf.