Socioeconomic Consequences of Mercury Use and Pollution

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 45 - 61
• Main Authors: Swain, Edward B, Jakus, Paul M, Rice, Glenn, Lupi, Frank, Maxson, Peter A, Pacyna, Jozef M, Penn, Alan, Spiegel, Samuel J, Veiga, Marcello M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 01.02.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Bioaccumulation; Biosphere; Brackish; Coal-fired power plants; Commerce; Common fisheries policy; Conservation of Natural Resources - statistics & numerical data; Contamination; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Costs; Dental fillings; Developing countries; Digestive system; Economic benefits; Economic costs and benefits; Economic uncertainty; Ecosystem; Emissions; Emissions policy; Environmental Exposure; Environmental policy; Environmental Pollution - adverse effects; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Environmental Pollution - prevention & control; Fish; Fisheries - statistics & numerical data; Fixed exchange rates; Fossil fuels; Fossil Fuels - statistics & numerical data; Freshwater; Gold; Gold mines & mining; Gold mining; Humans; Industrial plant emissions; Inhalation; International agreements; LDCs; Life cycles; Marine; Mercury; Mercury - chemistry; MERCURY POLLUTION; Methylmercury; Mining - statistics & numerical data; Pollutant emissions; Public Policy; Risk assessment; Socioeconomic Factors; Wildlife
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[45:SCOMUA]2.0.CO;2

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.