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

Kyrre Sundseth, Jozef M. Pacyna, Elisabeth G. Pacyna, Nicola Pirrone and Rebecca J. Thorne
Additional contact information
Kyrre Sundseth: NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Department of Environmental Impacts and Economics, Instituttveien 18, P.O. Box 100, Kjeller NO-2027, Norway
Jozef M. Pacyna: NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Department of Environmental Impacts and Economics, Instituttveien 18, P.O. Box 100, Kjeller NO-2027, Norway
Elisabeth G. Pacyna: NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Department of Environmental Impacts and Economics, Instituttveien 18, P.O. Box 100, Kjeller NO-2027, Norway
Nicola Pirrone: CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Area della Ricerca Roma 1, Via Salaria Km 29 300, Monterotondo (Rome) 00015, Italy
Rebecca J. Thorne: NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Department of Environmental Impacts and Economics, Instituttveien 18, P.O. Box 100, Kjeller NO-2027, Norway

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: 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 global sources and pathways of mercury in the context of human health is important for being able to monitor the effects from implementation of the Minamata Convention targets, although new research is needed on the improvement of emission inventory data, the chemical and physical behaviour of mercury in the atmosphere, the improvement of monitoring network data, predictions of future emissions and speciation, and on the subsequent effects on the environment, human health, as well as the economic costs and benefits of reducing these aspects.

Keywords: mercury; global sources; pathways; emission scenarios; human health; policy-making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:1:p:105-:d:88469

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