Abstract

Bindillg　forms　of　residual　mercury　in　surface　soils　of　urban　environment　were　studied　by　means　of　a　pyrolysis　method．Soil　samples　were　selected　from　the　site　of　parks　in　urban，two　campuses　of　physical　science　and　medicine　system，and　the site　of　Nara　City　contaminated　by　metallic　mercury　from　gilded　image　of　Buddha．The　results　show　that　mercury　chloride，organism－bound　Hg，and　mercuric　sulfide　occurring　in　the　studied　soils　could　be　identified　by　their　thermaI　release　behavior． Metallic　mercury　did　not　detected　from　surface　soils　in　all　samples．Leaching　experiments　with　acid　rainwater　did　not extracted　mercury　species．The　results　obtained　from　this　research　were　found　that　the　residual　merc皿y　in　soils　was chemically　stable　in　urban　environment．Mercury　evaporation　from　soils　as　a　function　of　temperature　is　the　only1（）ss　route of　resi〔iual　lnercury　in　surface　soils　of　urban　enviro111nent．