biostudies-literatureAlvarez-Fernandez NBeca Leonardo a Investigadores y Creadores Culturales 2020 - Fundación BBVAFomentar a actividade investigadora do persoal investigador finalista nas convocatorias de axudas da ERC do H2020 - GAINJIN project - Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación español21231https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8551184biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)Mercury environmental cycle and toxicology have been widely researched. Given the long history of mercury pollution, researching mercury trends in the past can help to understand its behaviour in the present. Archaeological skeletons have been found to be useful sources of information regarding mercury loads in the past. In our study we applied a soil multi-sampling approach in two burials dated to the 5th to 6th centuries AD. PLRS modelling was used to elucidate the factors controlling mercury distribution. The model explains 72% of mercury variance and suggests that mercury accumulation in the burial soils is the result of complex interactions. The decomposition of the bodies not only was the primary source of mercury to the soil but also responsible for the pedogenetic transformation ofScientific reportsApproaching mercury distribution in burial environment using PLS-R modelling.PMC8551184PID2019-111683RJ-l002021-CP0522020-PO048Alvarez-Fernandez NGarcia-Lopez ZLopez-Costas OMartinez Cortizas AfalseApproaching mercury distribution in burial environment using PLS-R modelling.Mercury environmental cycle and toxicology have been widely researched. Given the long history of mercury pollution, researching mercury trends in the past can help to understand its behaviour in the present. Archaeological skeletons have been found to be useful sources of information regarding mercury loads in the past. In our study we applied a soil multi-sampling approach in two burials dated to the 5th to 6th centuries AD. PLRS modelling was used to elucidate the factors controlling mercury distribution. The model explains 72% of mercury variance and suggests that mercury accumulation in the burial soils is the result of complex interactions. The decomposition of the bodies not only was the primary source of mercury to the soil but also responsible for the pedogenetic transformation of2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Oct2025-04-19T15:33:30.552Z2025-04-19T15:33:30.552ZS-EPMC85511843470717710.1038/s41598-021-00768-8