Articles | Volume 26, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5747-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5747-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Long-term mercury isotope evidence for a shift toward background-dominated urban atmospheric mercury in North China under sustained emission controls
Chao Zhang
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Xiaomiao Mu
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Songjing Li
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Zhao Wang
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Xinguang Li
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Muhammad Asif Sherliyat
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Xiaojian Wang
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Yi Liu
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Wang Zheng
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Jiubin Chen
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Yutian Ke, Damien Calmels, Julien Bouchez, Marc Massault, Benjamin Chetelat, Aurélie Noret, Hongming Cai, Jiubin Chen, Jérôme Gaillardet, and Cécile Quantin
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 347–365, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-347-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-347-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Through a river cross-section, we show that fluvial organic carbon in the lower Huanghe has clear vertical and lateral heterogeneity in elemental and isotopic signals. Bank erosion supplies terrestrial organic carbon to the fluvial transport. Physical erosion of aged and refractory organic carbon, including radiocarbon-dead organic carbon source from the biosphere, from relatively deep soil horizons of the Chinese Loess Plateau contributes to fluvial particulate organic carbon in the Huanghe.
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Short summary
This study investigates long-term (2018–2025) atmospheric mercury trends in Tianjin, China. Gaseous mercury concentrations declined by > 60 % and stabilized near background levels during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Mercury isotopes reveal a shift from local emission dominance to background influence, with secondary re-emission from urban surfaces becoming increasingly important. The results demonstrate effective emission controls and the rising significance of legacy mercury in cities.
This study investigates long-term (2018–2025) atmospheric mercury trends in Tianjin, China....
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