Long-Term Variation Characteristics and Health Risks of Atmospheric Hg in the Largest City in Northwestern China

In this study, gaseous element mercury (GEM) and gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) in the atmosphere were continuously observed at a minute resolution from 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2020 in urban Xi’an, the largest central city in Northwestern China. The concentrations of GEM and GOM drastically fluctuated within the ranges of 0.022–297 ng/m³ and 0.092–381 pg/m³, showing average values of 5.78 ± 7.36 ng/m³ and 14.2 ± 20.8 pg/m³, respectively. GEM and GOM showed a decreasing trend of 0.121 ng/m³ and 0.472 pg/m³ per month, respectively, which we believe was mainly caused by anthropogenic sources, especially by a reduction in coal-fired emissions, rather than meteorological factors. The significant positive correlation between GEM and PM_2.5, SO₂, NO₂, and CO, as well as Cr, As, and Pb in PM_2.5 also proves that. GEM showed a higher concentration at nighttime than daytime, while an M-shaped diurnal trend was observed for GOM. The hazard quotient of GEM for both males and females decreased at a rate of 0.003 per month, and children aged 2–5 were more sensitive to non-carcinogenic health risks. The changing trends, controlling factors, and human health risks of Hg in the atmosphere are necessary and crucial to study for improving our understanding of the impacts of Hg in Northwestern China.