Requirements for the Establishment of Mercury Monitors in Mexico as a Pilot Project Identification of the Technical Design of the Monitoring Pilot Project for Wet Deposition of Mercury in Mexico ANNE M. HANSEN, MANFRED VAN AFFERDEN

General Project Objective Identify the requirements for the establishment of mercury monitors in Mexico as a pilot project in collaboration with key agencies in Mexico and liaising with appropriate Canadian and US authorities as well as private sector contractors.

What is the big idea?

Extension of Mercury Deposition Network Integration of Mexican sampling stations into the existing network Intensification of future collaboration in prevention of exposure

Installation of two wet-deposition monitors MDN requires two different instruments for the collection and measurement of precipitation: An electrically powered collector that automatically collects precipitation samples for mercury analysis A raingage that mechanically measures and records the amount of precipitation An electrically powered collector that automatically collects precipitation samples for mercury analysis A raingage that mechanically measures and records the amount of precipitation Raingage Collector

Sample and data handling Weekly precipitation samples should be collected every Tuesday and mailed to the Mercury Analytical Laboratory at Frontier Geosciences (USA) for analysis by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The MDN provides data for total mercury, but will include methylmercury if desired by a site sponsor. Field bucketEvent recorder trace

Why install mercury monitors in Mexico?

Deposition of Mercury

General NADP Monitoring Objectives To characterize geographic patterns and temporal trends in biologically important chemical deposition. To support research activities related to: The productivity of managed and natural systems; The chemistry of surface and ground waters, including estuaries; The health of domestic animals, wildlife, and fish; Human health. (Dossett and Bowersox, 1999)

General Mexican Objectives General Mexican Objectives Assess mercury exposure rates to ecosystems and human populations through mercury wet deposition in Mexico; Evaluate the effects of emissions reduction and control on a long term basis; Identify main mercury transport routes; Fulfill international commitments; Increase Mexican capacity in the assessment of mercury deposition and effects.

Who will be responsible?

Responsibilities in Mexico

The responsibilities of monitoring mercury in wet deposition is not clearly defined Potential future responsible institutions: Semarnat: Has the principal responsibility Semarnat: Has the principal responsibility CNA: National Water Commission National Meteorological Service (SMN) INE: National Institute of Ecology CENICA

Where to install the monitors?

Automatic Hydro- meteorological Stations (AHSs)(60) Automatic Hydro- meteorological Stations (AHSs)(60) Meteorological Observatories (82) Meteorological Observatories (82) Strategy of site selection Far from Mercury point sources in order to measure Far from Mercury point sources in order to measure background levels background levels On or close to the site of already existing meteorological stations or observatories On or close to the site of already existing meteorological stations or observatories

(modified according to Bigelow et al. 2001) NADP/NTN site selection criteria Regional Regional Local Local On-site On-site

Specific Mexican Site selection criteria Accessibility and infrastructure (courier mail service, electricity, telephone, laboratory) Accessibility and infrastructure (courier mail service, electricity, telephone, laboratory) An operator lives on or very close to the site An operator lives on or very close to the site

Site selection procedure 1 st step: Application of regional requirements (20 and 50 km) From the 142 sites (AHS, MO) 108 stations were excluded From the 142 sites (AHS, MO) 108 stations were excluded 2 nd step: Application of Mexican requirements (operator) From the AHSs only 16 fulfill the condition of potential operators living close to the site From the AHSs only 16 fulfill the condition of potential operators living close to the site 3 rd step: Application of local and on-site requirements (telephone) From these 16 sites only 6 do not fulfill these requirements From these 16 sites only 6 do not fulfill these requirements 4 th step: Presence of chemical lab for major ions Among the final 10 stations, only 4 have a chemical laboratory close by Among the final 10 stations, only 4 have a chemical laboratory close by 5 th step: On-site verification and evaluation of 2 sites On-site verification and evaluation of 2 sites

Cd. Constitución Huejutla Tecamachalco Puerto Ángel Location of the preselected sites

On-site evaluation of Huejutla-site

On-site evaluation of Puerto Ángel-site

Who will participate?

Project Coordination Steering Committee Steering Committee NADP, INE, NACEC (Mercury, M&A Task Forces) Technical Project Management Technical Project ManagementIMTA Equipment and Analysis Equipment and Analysis NADP, Frontier Geosciences among others

On-site Institutions Huejutla: SMN-CNA, Instituto Tecnológico Agropecuario (operator Biol. Alejandra López Mancilla) Cd. Huejutla: SMN-CNA, Instituto Tecnológico Agropecuario (operator Biol. Alejandra López Mancilla) Cd. Puerto Angel: SMN-CNA (operator Ing. Ulises López Rodríguez) Puerto Angel: SMN-CNA (operator Ing. Ulises López Rodríguez) Constitución: SMN-CNA (operator Javier Martínez Arreola) Constitución: SMN-CNA (operator Javier Martínez Arreola) Tecamachalco: SMN-CNA, Universidad Tecnológica (operator M.C. Ofelia Araceli López Mejía) Tecamachalco: SMN-CNA, Universidad Tecnológica (operator M.C. Ofelia Araceli López Mejía)

Capacity building US / Canadian Institutions Training courses: On-site: Installation, initial sampling phase, maintenance US/Canada: Wet deposition, sampling and maintenance, interpretation of results US/Canada: Clean - Lab analysis On-site supervision: Routine operation and quality control

How much will it cost?

Costs for an extended, subsidized pilot project (US$) Equipment 9,100 Balance, conductance meter and electrode, pH meter and electrodes, lab-material Installation 12,000 Site preparation and modification, platform, shipping, custom liberation Installation 12,000 Site preparation and modification, platform, shipping, custom liberation Operation 38,220 Shipping, personnel, communication, office supply, maintenance and materials Operation 38,220 Shipping, personnel, communication, office supply, maintenance and materials Capacity building 16,100 Training courses, on-site supervision Capacity building 16,100 Training courses, on-site supervision Analysis 43,680 Mercury (free), methylmercury, major ions Analysis 43,680 Mercury (free), methylmercury, major ions Technical project management 67,300 Personnel, per diem, transportation, telephone Technical project management 67,300 Personnel, per diem, transportation, telephone Total186,400 Total186,400

When may it start?

Steering committee Ing. José Luis Razo Quvedo Ing. Gloria Herrera Ing. Ulises LópezRodríguez Javier Martínez Arreola M.C. Ofelia Araceli López Mejía Ing. Ángel Barrera Morteo Ing. Orlando Quintero Martínez Biol. Alejandra LópezMancilla Right now? Heavy rain