Mercury occurs in various chemical forms, and it is different to health effects according to chemical forms. In consideration of the point, the evaluation of the mercury exposure to human distinguished from occupational and environmental exposure. With strict to manage occupational exposure in factory, it is declined mercury intoxication cases by metallic and inorganic mercury inhalation to occ...

The methylation of mercury has been investigated and documented mainly in sediments, fish and microorganisms, while limited number of relevant studies is available for wastewater. The procedure of mercury methylation can occur via biological pathway (by microorganisms) and via chemical or photochemical reactions. Methylation of mercury occurs mainly under anaerobic conditions, but some studies ...

The present study intends to increase the knowledge on the mobility of mercury in a salt marsh colonised by Halimione portulacoides. Mercury distribution in the sediment layers and its incorporation into the plant biomass were assessed, as well as the potential export of mercury from the contaminated area to the adjacent environment. Mercury pools in the sediments ranged from 560 to 943 mg m(-2...

Much of the mercury contamination in aquatic biota originates from coal-fired power plants, point sources that release mercury into the atmosphere. Understanding mercury dynamics is primarily important because of the toxic threat mercury poses to wildlife and humans through the consumption of contaminated fish. In this study, we quantified the relative importance of proximity to coal-fired powe...

Mercury exists in trace amounts in coal. In the United States, coal-fired power plants emit about 48 tons of mercury and are the largest point source of emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined the need to control mercury emissions from power plants. In addition, several legislative proposals have been introduced in the 108 Congress to reduce mercury emissions from the...

This study investigated the effects of increasing mercury (Hg) concentration on early developmental stages of sea urchin, Echinomethra mathaei, as a bioindicator. The toxicity test was carried out after the gamete released induction and fertilization in six concentrations of mercury within the range of 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 µg/L. Embryos samples were incubated for 30 h in control and test so...

Mercury cycling in the water column and upper sediments of a contaminated area, the Largo do Laranjo, Aveiro (Portugal), was evaluated after determination of reactive and non-reactive mercury concentrations in the water column and pore waters of sediments, collected in several places of this bay. In the water column, reactive mercury concentrations varied between 10 and 37 pmol dm(-3), the high...

Dentists all over the world remove millions of amalgam fillings every day, with no regard for the possible mercury exposure that can result from grinding them out. Much of the time, a new amalgam filling goes back in place of the old one. The dental establishment claims that amalgam is a stable material, that emits little or no mercury, but then turns around and blames the mercury–free dentists...

Top-down analysis of virtual atmospheric mercury emission networks can direct efficient demand-side policy making on mercury reductions. Taking China-the world's top atmospheric mercury emitter-as a case, we identify key contributors to China's atmospheric mercury emissions from both the producer and the consumer perspectives. China totally discharged 794.9 tonnes of atmospheric mercury emissio...

The aim of this study was to examine the experimental uptake of mercury and the enzymatic response, i.e., glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, to this metal introduced into the medium under organic (methylmercury chloride) and nonorganic (mercury chloride) forms. Shoots of Posidonia oceanica were collected in a nonpolluted area in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea and were treated in aqua...