The contribution of Hg from volcanic emanations is decisive for assessing global mercury emissions given the impact of this highly toxic contaminant on human health and ecosystems. Atmospheric Hg emissions from Popocatépetl volcano and their dispersion were evaluated carrying out two gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) surveys during a period of intense volcanic activity. Continuous GEM measurements were taken for 24 h using a portable mercury vapor analyzer (Lumex RA-915M) at the Altzomoni Atmospheric Observatory (AAO), 11 km from the crater. In addition, a long-distance survey to measure GEM was conducted during an automobile transect around the volcano, covering a distance of 129 km. The evaluation of the GEM data registered in the fixed location showed that heightened volcanic activity clearly intensifies the concentration of atmospheric Hg, extreme values around 5 ng m⁻³. Highest concentrations of GEM recorded during the mobile survey were about 10 ng m⁻³. In both surveys, the recorded concentrations during most of the measurement time were below 2 ng m⁻³, but measurements were taken at a considerable distance from the crater, and GEM is subject to dilution processes. During both surveys, recorded GEM did not exceed the 200 ng m⁻³ concentration recommended by the WHO (Air quality guidelines for Europe, 2000) as the regulatory limits for Hg in the atmospheric environment for long-term inhalation. Because this study was carried out in inhabited areas around the volcano during a period of intense volcanic activity, it can be concluded that the Popocatépetl does not represent a risk to human health in terms of Hg.

鉴于这种剧毒污染物对人类健康和生态系统的影响，火山喷发中汞的贡献对于评估全球汞排放具有决定性作用。在激烈的火山活动期间，通过进行两次气态元素汞（GEM）调查，对Popocatépetl火山的大气汞排放及其扩散进行了评估。使用便携式汞蒸气分析仪（Lumex RA-915M）在距火山口11公里的阿尔佐莫尼大气观测站（AAO）进行了24小时的连续GEM测量。此外，在火山周围的汽车横断面进行了长距离测量，以测量GEM，覆盖范围为129 km。对固定位置上登记的GEM数据的评估表明，火山活动的增强明显增强了大气中Hg的浓度，⁻³。在移动调查中记录到的最高GEM浓度约为10 ng m ^-3。在两次调查中，大部分测量时间内记录的浓度均低于2 ng m ^-3，但测量距离火山口的距离相当大，GEM需经过稀释过程。在两次调查中，记录的GEM均未超过WHO推荐的200 ng m ^-3浓度（欧洲空气质量准则，2000年），这是长期吸入大气环境中汞的监管限值。由于这项研究是在一段时间的激烈火山活动期间在火山周围的居民区进行的，因此可以得出结论，就汞而言，Popocatépetl不会对人类健康构成威胁。