Introducing the PhD themes of our young researchers - Magdalena Mirt
Evaporation of mercury from contaminated soils under the influence of extreme weather events
Extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and intense, have a major impact on our environment and on the way pollutants move and behave in space. These changes are particularly pronounced in cities, where dense populations, multiple activities and pollution sources mean that chemical substances circulate in a fundamentally different way than in natural environments.
One of the less studied but important consequences of rising temperatures is the increased volatilisation of mercury from contaminated soils. Mercury is a highly volatile and toxic element and its release into the atmosphere poses a hidden risk to human and environmental health, especially in urban and industrial areas.
Magdalena Mirt's PhD research focuses on understanding which factors influence mercury evaporation. Field measurements will be carried out under different conditions: different types of land use, weather conditions, seasons, times of day and soil moisture levels. At the same time, the soil properties that may accelerate or inhibit this process will be analysed in detail.
A better understanding of these processes will allow more accurate assessment of the risks posed by climate change and the development of more effective strategies to protect human health in urban and industrial environments.
The supervisor of the PhD thesis is Dr Martin Gaberšek.