2. Outline
Introduction
Mercury in the environment
Exposure to mercury
Effects of mercury on human health and environment
Laws and regulations on mercury
Remediation processes of mercury-contaminated sites
Case Study
Minamata Mercury Pollution
4. Introduction
Mercury is the most hazardous metal
for human health and environment
Has high toxicity, volatility
Tendency to bio-accumulate in human
body
Mercury is on the priority list of 129
chemical substances by US EPA
5. Introduction
Elemental mercury, although a metal, is
unique since it is a liquid at normal
temperature
Its high specific gravity and electrical
conductivity, has brought about its
widespread use in industries
Industrial facilities use mercury in their
processes / products
chlor-alkali plants
thermometers, barometers, fluorescent light
6. Introduction
Both inorganic and organic mercury
can cause serious health effects
Organic forms of mercury are generally
more toxic than inorganic forms
It is possible for inorganic mercury to be biologically transformed
into organic mercury
Therefore, it is important to control inorganic mercury leaching from
mercury containing wastes
7. Introduction
Inappropriate waste dumping during the early stages of industrialization
resulted in mercury contamination in soil
In Taiwan, spills, leaks and accidental discharges of mercury containing
chemicals have contaminated soil at several sites
Injuries by mercury toxicity have been observed in Japan, Iraq, Pakistan
and NM of the United States
9. Mercury In The Environment
Sources of mercury emissions
could be placed in three
categories:
natural
anthropogenic
re-emitted sources
Mercury re-emission is the
remobilization of settled
mercury
10. Mercury In The Environment
Natural sources of mercury emission
Degassing from mercury mineral
deposits
Degassing from mercury contaminated
aquatic and terrestrial systems
Volcanic emissions
Forest fires
11. Mercury In The Environment
Anthropogenic sources of mercury emission
Solid waste incineration (municipal and medical wastes)
Coal and oil combustion
Pyrometallurgical processes (iron, lead, and zinc)
Production of mercury and gold
Among these sources, coal combustion and solid waste incineration
account for more than half of the total global emissions
12. Mercury In The Environment
All over the world, other important industrial sources of mercury
emissions into the environment include the manufacture of:
cement
electrical apparatus
pulp and paper
thermometers and fluorescent lamps
In the United States, it is estimated that about 97% of total
anthropogenic mercury emissions come from combustion and
industrial sources
14. Exposure To Mercury
Mercury in the air eventually settles
into water or onto land where it can
be washed into water
Once deposited, certain micro-
organisms can change it into
methylmercury
This highly toxic form of mercury builds
up in fish, shellfish and animals that eat
fish
16. Exposure To Mercury
Methylmercury builds up more in some types of fish and shellfish
than others
The levels of methylmercury in fish and shellfish depend on
what they eat
how long they live
how high they are in the food chain
Fish and shellfish are the main sources of methylmercury exposure to
humans
17. Exposure To Mercury
Another less common exposure to mercury that can be a concern is
breathing mercury vapor
These exposures can occur when elemental mercury or products that
contain elemental mercury break and release mercury to the air
Particularly in warm or poorly-ventilated indoor spaces
19. Effect of Mercury on Human
Health & Environment
Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the:
brain, heart
kidneys, lungs
immune system of people of all ages
High levels of methylmercury in the bloodstream of unborn babies
and young children may harm the developing nervous system
Making the child less able to think and learn
20. Effect of Mercury on Human
Health & Environment
The factors that determine how severe
the health effects are, from mercury
exposure, include:
the chemical form of mercury
the dose
the age of the person exposed (the fetus is
the most susceptible)
the duration of exposure
the route of exposure - inhalation,
ingestion, dermal contact, etc
the health of the person exposed
21. Effect of Mercury on Human
Health & Environment
Ecological effects of mercury
Birds and mammals that eat fish are more exposed to mercury than
other animals in ecosystems
Similarly, predators that eat fish-eating animals may be highly
exposed
At high levels of exposure, methylmercury's harmful effects on these
animals include:
death, reduced reproduction
slower growth and development, and abnormal behavior
23. Effect of Mercury on Human
Health & Environment
EPA works with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and
with states and tribes to issue advice to women
who may become pregnant
pregnant women, nursing mothers
and parents of young children
about how often they should eat certain types of
commercially-caught fish and shellfish
EPA releases an annual summary of information on locally-issued fish
advisories and safe-eating guidelines to the public
25. Laws & Regulations on Mercury
Laws and regulations are a major tool in
protecting the environment
Congress passes laws (statutes) that govern the
United States
To put those laws into effect, Congress authorizes certain
government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to create and enforce regulations
Regulations provide specific rules and details for how to put the law
into practice
26. Laws & Regulations on Mercury
Under certain Federal environmental statutes, such as
the CAA, CWA, and RCRA,
EPA has the responsibility to develop regulations to
control some mercury emissions to air, water, or from
wastes and products
In addition, states also develop regulations to
address mercury emissions
27. Laws & Regulations on Mercury
Mercury-Specific Laws
Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008
President George W. Bush signed into law the Mercury Export Ban
Act of 2008 on October 14, 2008
The Act includes provisions on both mercury exports and long-term
mercury management and storage
U.S. is ranked one of the world‘s top exporters of mercury. Thus,
implementation of the act will remove a significant amount of
mercury from the global market
28. Laws & Regulations on Mercury
Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management
Act of 1996 (Battery Act)
The statute applies to battery and product manufacturers, battery
waste handlers, and certain battery and product importers and
retailers
Phases out the use of mercury in batteries
Provides for the efficient and cost-effective disposal of used:
nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries
small sealed lead-acid (SSLA) batteries
certain other regulated batteries
29. Laws & Regulations on Mercury
Other Environmental Laws that Limit Mercury Exposures
Clean Air Act
The CAA regulates 188 air toxics, also known as ―hazardous air
pollutants‖
Mercury is one of these air toxics
The Clean Air Mercury Rule
EPA regulated mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants
30. Laws & Regulations on Mercury
Clean Water Act
Under the CWA, states adopt water quality standards for their
rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands
These standards identify levels for pollutants, including mercury, that
must be met in order to protect human health, fish, and wildlife
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RCRA requires that EPA manage hazardous wastes, including
mercury wastes, from the time they are generated, through storage
and transportation, to their ultimate treatment and disposal
31. Laws & Regulations on Mercury
Safe Drinking Water Act
Under the SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water that apply
to public water systems
These standards protect people by limiting levels of mercury and
other contaminants in drinking water
Mercury contamination in drinking water can come from:
erosion of natural deposits of mercury
discharges into water from refineries and factories
runoff from landfills
33. Remediation Processes of
Mercury-Contaminated Sites
Mercury is persistent in the environment
Effective remedial methods need to be applied to lower mercury
levels in heavily contaminated sites
In general, four kinds of treatments of contaminated sediment are
available:
In situ containment
In situ treatment
Ex situ containment
Ex situ treatment
34. Remediation Processes of
Mercury-Contaminated Sites
Thermal desorption
Usually, an ‗‗ex situ‖ remedial technology
Converts mercurial compounds into the volatile mercury
Considered as a preferred technology, due to more safety and
less emission of treating substance
Stabilization / Solidification
Vitrification
Soil flushing
Soil washing
35. Remediation Processes of
Mercury-Contaminated Sites
Capping
In situ capping (ISC) is on site placement of proper covering
material over contaminated sediment in aquatic systems
In ex situ capping (ESC), contaminated sediment is dredged and
relocated to another site, where one or multiple isolating layers
are placed over the sediment
38. Case Study
Minamata Mercury Pollution
Minamata - a fishing village in the south of Japan, on the Minamata bay, is
the site of one of humanity‘s most tragic cases of industrial pollution
It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater
from Chisso Corporation's chemical factory
39. Case Study
Root Cause Assessment of Impact of Minamata Symptoms of Minamata
Minamata Pollution Pollution Disease
Indiscriminate dumping of Huge quantities of mercury General
wastewater detected in fish, shellfish and Muscle weakness
sludge in Minamata bay
Absence of wastewater Damage to hearing,
treatment facility Stigmatization and vision and speech
discrimination against Crippling hands
Economic clout of Chisso patients and feet
Corporation
Dredging and reclamation
done to remove the toxic Extreme Cases
sludge from the Minamata Paralysis
bay Coma
Death
40. Summary
Introduction to mercury pollution
Mercury in the environment
Exposure to mercury
Effects of mercury on human health and environment
Laws and regulations on mercury
Remediation processes of mercury-contaminated sites
Case Study
Minamata Mercury Pollution
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