Industrial sources mercury deposition

Abbott ML, Susong DD, Krabbenhoft DP, Rood AS. 2002. Mercury deposition near an industrial emission source in the western U.S. and comparison to ISC3 model predictions. Water Air Soil Pollut 139 95-114. 

Humans have been exposed more and more to metallic contaminants in the environment, mostly from the products of industry. There are three main sources of metals in the environment. The most obvious are the processes of extraction and purification mining, smelting, and refining. Another is the release of metals from fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil), when these are burned. Cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, vanadium, chromium, and copper are all present in these fuels, and considerable amounts enter the air or are deposited in ash. The third and most diverse source is the production and use of industrial products containing metals, which is increasing as new applications are found. The modem chemical industry, for example, uses many metals or metal compounds as catalysts metal compounds are used as stabilizers in the production of many plastics, and metals are added to lubricants, which then find their way into the environment.21... 

Mercury is regulated as a priority pollutant in accordance with the Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWA establishes the basic structure for regulating the discharge of pollutants to waterways and is designed to ensure that all waters are sufficiently clean to protect public health and/or the environment. However, if waters and their sediments become contaminated from sources such as atmospheric deposition and discharges from industrial, municipal, or agricultural operations, toxic substances could concentrate in the tissue of fish and wildlife. 

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