Canadian mercury inventories: the missing pieces

Environmental Research
L A Hagreen, B A Lourie

Abstract

Research was conducted to determine the significance of the deliberate use of mercury in products in Canada and the associated releases from these sources. Through a combination of literature review and new calculations, the reservoir, flux, and releases of mercury from eight product sources were calculated, and these results compared to historical Canadian inventories. Mercury contributions from the waste sector were also assessed and compared to total Canadian mercury releases and to mercury releases from coal-fired generating stations. Results suggest the use and release of mercury associated with release of mercury associated with its use in products is 4.5 times what previous inventories indicate. Including dental amalgam and sewage sludge, the total releases of mercury to all environmental compartments in Canada totals 20 tonnes per year. This accounts for less than one-half of the 44 tonnes per year of mercury released from mercury waste disposal each year in Canada. Waste mercury contributions from hazardous waste imports, unknown product sources, and incomplete information on the use of mercury in known products may account for this discrepancy. Waste-related mercury releases and transfers for disposal and recycling ar...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 17, 2015·Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology·Li Wang, Hong Zhang
Jan 13, 2006·The Science of the Total Environment·Coby S C WongMing H Wong
Jun 29, 2004·Environmental Research·Michael Gilbertson, David O Carpenter
Jan 7, 2015·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Didem Civancik, Ulku Yetis
Aug 16, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Hannah M HorowitzElsie M Sunderland
Jul 4, 2009·Medical Education·Karen E Schifferdecker, Virginia A Reed
Jan 4, 2019·Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·Xiyue Wang, Yuxiang Mao

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