Global Mercury Production, Use and Trade

Maxson, Peter A.

doi:10.1007/0-387-24494-8_2

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Mercury discharges from rivers to the margins of the North Atlantic Ocean peaked around the 1970s, likely due to the large quantities of Hg used and released from commercial products and industrial manufacturing at that time. ,− Sediment core data suggest that Hg discharges from rivers bordering the North Atlantic in the 1970s were a factor of 9 (range 4–20) larger than at present (Table ). In India and China, riverine Hg discharges to the marine environment have increased by 40–400% since the 1970s based on sediment core data and country-level inventories of Hg releases to water. ,, The increase is likely driven by dense development and urbanization along major rivers, ,, greater use of Hg in industrial processes (e.g., in vinyl chloride monomer production), , and increasing agricultural application of Hg-containing phosphate fertilizers …”

Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Biogeochemical Implications of Mercury Discharges from Rivers and Sediment Burial

Amos¹,

Jacob²,

Kocman

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

255

276

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Rivers are an important source of mercury (Hg) to marine ecosystems. Based on an analysis of compiled observations, we estimate global present-day Hg discharges from rivers to ocean margins are 27 ± 13 Mmol a(-1) (5500 ± 2700 Mg a(-1)), of which 28% reaches the open ocean and the rest is deposited to ocean margin sediments. Globally, the source of Hg to the open ocean from rivers amounts to 30% of atmospheric inputs. This is larger than previously estimated due to accounting for elevated concentrations in Asian rivers and variability in offshore transport across different types of estuaries. Riverine inputs of Hg to the North Atlantic have decreased several-fold since the 1970s while inputs to the North Pacific have increased. These trends have large effects on Hg concentrations at ocean margins but are too small in the open ocean to explain observed declines of seawater concentrations in the North Atlantic or increases in the North Pacific. Burial of Hg in ocean margin sediments represents a major sink in the global Hg biogeochemical cycle that has not been previously considered. We find that including this sink in a fully coupled global biogeochemical box model helps to balance the large anthropogenic release of Hg from commercial products recently added to global inventories. It also implies that legacy anthropogenic Hg can be removed from active environmental cycling on a faster time scale (centuries instead of millennia). Natural environmental Hg levels are lower than previously estimated, implying a relatively larger impact from human activity.

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Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Biogeochemical Implications of Mercury Discharges from Rivers and Sediment Burial

Amos¹,

Jacob²,

Kocman

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

255

276

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“…Use gradually decreased to an estimated 3500 t in 2005 (Fig. 1a) (7)(8)(9). In 2000, however, global trade statistics reveal that at least 9000 t of metallic Hg were bought and sold across national borders, confirming that Hg is an actively traded commodity (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Socioeconomic Consequences of Mercury Use and Pollution

Swain

Jakus

Rice³

et al. 2007

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment

Self Cite

210

153

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In the past, human activities often resulted in mercury releases to the biosphere with little consideration of undesirable consequences for the health of humans and wildlife. This paper outlines the pathways through which humans and wildlife are exposed to mercury. Fish consumption is the major route of exposure to methylmercury. Humans can also receive toxic doses of mercury through inhalation of elevated concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury. We propose that any effective strategy for reducing mercury exposures requires an examination of the complete life cycle of mercury. This paper examines the life cycle of mercury from a global perspective and then identifies several approaches to measuring the benefits of reducing mercury exposure, policy options for reducing Hg emissions, possible exposure reduction mechanisms, and issues associated with mercury risk assessment and communication for different populations.

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“…Use of batteries, light sources and other electrical and electronic equipment generate Hg emission to air. This emission in Poland was estimated for 2014 based on Hg consumption (Maxson, 2006) excluding measuring and control equipment (6.6 Mg Hg), model for distribution and emissions (Kindbom and Munthe, 2007) and Polish statistical data for municipal wastes. Due to GUS (2015) data 15.1% of collected municipal wastes was designated for incineration, mainly in cement plants.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inventory of Mercury Emission to Air, Water and Soil in Poland for Year 2014

Panasiuk

2016

Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment

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Global Mercury Production, Use and Trade

Cited by 13 publications

References 2 publications

Global Biogeochemical Implications of Mercury Discharges from Rivers and Sediment Burial

Global Biogeochemical Implications of Mercury Discharges from Rivers and Sediment Burial

Socioeconomic Consequences of Mercury Use and Pollution

Inventory of Mercury Emission to Air, Water and Soil in Poland for Year 2014

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