Mercury as a Global Pollutant: Sources, Pathways, and Effects

Mercury as a Global Pollutant: Sources, Pathways, and Effects

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. We synthesize understanding of sources, atmosphere-land-ocean Hg dynamics and health effects, and consider the implications of Hg-control policies. Primary anthropogenic Hg emissions greatly exceed natural geogenic sources, resulting in increases in Hg reservoirs and subsequent secondary Hg emissions that facilitate its...

Global Sources and Pathways of Mercury in the Context of Human Health

This paper reviews information from the existing literature and the EU GMOS (Global Mercury Observation System) project to assess the current scientific knowledge on global mercury releases into the atmosphere, on global atmospheric transport and deposition, and on the linkage between environmental contamination and potential impacts on human health. The review concludes that assessment of glob...

Mercury Effects, Sources and Control Measures

Mercury Effects, Sources, and Control Measures

Prepared by Alan B. Jones, Brooks Rand, Ltd., Seattle, WA Darell G. Slotton, University of California, Davis Review contributions by Chris Foe, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Joe Domagalski, United States Geological Survey A Special Study of the San Francisco Estuary Regional Monitoring Program San Francisco Estuary Institute 1325 S. 46th Street Richmond, CA 94804 September...

Mercury in Arctic marine ecosystems: sources, pathways and exposure.

Mercury in the Arctic is an important environmental and human health issue. The reliance of Northern Peoples on traditional foods, such as marine mammals, for subsistence means that they are particularly at risk from mercury exposure. The cycling of mercury in Arctic marine systems is reviewed here, with emphasis placed on the key sources, pathways and processes which regulate mercury levels in...