Evidence of microbial control of Hg0emissions from uncontaminated terrestrial soils

It is known that in wetland soils and soils contaminated with mercury (Hg), direct biotic reduction of Hg²⁺ to Hg⁰ leads to Hg⁰ emissions to the atmosphere. In terrestrial soils, numerous factors have been reported that control Hg⁰ emissions, but it is still unclear if biotic processes are also important. In this study, microbiological activity of Cambisol monoliths from a subalpine grassland with Hg concentrations of approx. 100 ng g^–1 were manipulated in laboratory incubation experiments. Elemental Hg emissions were recorded together with CO₂ emission rates as proxy for microbiological respiration. Emissions of Hg⁰ increased from approx. 5 ng m^–2 h^–1 up to 130 ng m^–2 h^–1 with stimulated biological activity (glucose addition, increase in temperature) and decreased with inhibited activity (chloroform fumigation, autoclaving, drying). Similar patterns with evasion rates of >90 ng m^–2 h^–1 were observed after dried soils were remoistened again. Our results indicated that processes leading to Hg⁰ emissions from uncontaminated terrestrial soils are at least partly controlled by biotic processes. However, it is still uncertain if Hg⁰ emission is caused directly by biotic reduction of Hg²⁺ or indirectly by abiotic reduction, induced by products of microbiological degradation, e.g., humic acids.