Socioeconomic Consequences of Mercury Use and Pollution

Abstract

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.

Temporal increase in organic mercury in an endangered pelagic seabird assessed by century-old museum specimens

“…High resolution, temporal data for historical Hg emissions on both the global and regional scales are limited, but preindustrial depositions have been estimated to be 500 tons/y (1). In the 1940s, when global demand during World War II played a prominent role, global Hg release increased substantially from mineral mining and fossil fuel combustion, and high levels of Hg production and consumption were sustained until the 1990s (22,35) There has been considerable debate as to whether anthropogenic sources can or have affected wide-ranging biota within marine systems. It was predicted in 1971 that, if evenly mixed across the world's oceans, the total anthropogenic increase in Hg flux would result in a doubling of Hg concentrations in the upper 100 m of the oceans, and this increase could amplify through the food web to upper trophic levels (37).…”

Mercurio en pescados y su importancia en la salud

“…La ingesta de MeHg a través de peces y alimentos del mar es actualmente un problema de salud pública, dada su toxicidad en el desarrollo neurológico en fetos y niños 5,6 .…”

“…2,3 , paulina cHáveZ 4 , claudia toRReJón 5,6 Mercury in fish and its importance in health (Rev Med Chile 2014; 142: 1174-1180 …”

Socio-economic costs of continuing the status-quo of mercury pollution

“…Deposition increases of Hg above threefold have been documented near emission sources; depositions depend on stack height, the quantity and chemistry of the emitted Hg, and local atmospheric chemistry (Lindberg et al, 2007;Swain et al, 2007). Bacteria in aquatic systems convert a small proportion of the deposited Hg to MeHg, which bioaccumulates in fish (inorganic Hg does not bioaccumulate).…”