Mercury pollution from

Methylmercury in the marine environment may originate from industrial discharges or be synthesised by natural methylation processes. Fish do not themselves methylate inorganic mercury [62,64], but can accumulate methyl mercury from sea water [63]. Methylmercury has been detected in sea water only from Minamata Bay, Japan, an area with a history of gross mercury pollution from industrial discharge. It has been found in some sediments but at very low concentrations, mainly from areas of known mercury pollution. It represents usually less than 1% of the total mercury in the sediment, and frequently less than 0.1% [65-67]. Microorganisms within the sediments are considered to be responsible for the methylation [65,68], and it has been suggested that methylmercury may be released by the sediments to the sea water, either in... 

If clean coal technology works well enough to be implemented widely in industry, it could have a huge impact on the environment. According to the DOE, the Clean Coal Power Initiative, a plan presented by President George W. Bush in 2001, will help cut sulfur, nitrogen, and mercury pollutants from power plants by nearly 70% by the year 2018. ... 

Mercury Pollutant from coal fired power plants... 

Mercury Pollution from Power Plants by State http //ewg.org/node/8150... 

In 1988 diaphragm cells accounted for 76% of all U.S. chlorine production, mercury cells for 17%, membrane cells for 5%, and all other production methods for 2%. Corresponding statistics for Canadian production are diaphragm cells, 81% mercury cells, 15% and membrane cells, 4% (5). for a number of reasons, including concerns over mercury pollution, recent trends are away from mercury cell production toward the more environmentally acceptable membrane cells, which also produce higher quality product and have favorable economics. 

The toxic nature of mercury and its compounds has caused concern over environmental pollution, and governmental agencies have imposed severe restrictions on release of mercury compounds to waterways and the air (see Mercury). Methods of precipitation and agglomeration of mercurial wastes from process water have been developed. These methods generally depend on the formation of relatively insoluble compounds such as mercury sulfides, oxides, and thiocarbamates. MetaUic mercury is invariably formed as a by-product. The use of coprecipitants, which adsorb mercury on their surfaces facihtating removal, is frequent. 

Finally, it should be mentioned that three out of the eight Spanish chlor-alkali plants operating with the mercury process are located in the Ebro River basin in the cities of Sabinanigo and Monzon - along the tributaries Gallego and Cinca Rivers, respectively - and Flix along the Ebro River (Fig. 1). Indeed, mercury emissions from the Hix and Monzon have already been reported [28]. Therefore, the mid-low Ebro River watershed might be considered as a hot spot of aquatic pollution of mercury in Spain. 

Mercury levels have been determined in seven fish species (European catfish, northern pike, common carp, rudd, roach, barbell, and bleak) from the three mercury pollution hotspots of the Ebro River basin previously described, namely Sabinanigo, Monzon, and Flix areas and downstream sites (Fig. 1). These species display different diet and habitat and belong to different families siluridae, esoci-dae, and cyprinidae. 

Average THg concentrations increased progressively at Flix, Asco, and Xerta sites and decreased at the irrigation channels of the Delta. This result evidences a mercury pollution transport downstream from the Flix plant until Xerta. Differences found when comparing water conductivity at Flix, Asco, and Xerta sites [48] with... 

Doi, R., H. Ohno, and M. Harada. 1984. Mercury in feathers of wild birds from the mercury-polluted area along the shore of the Shiranui Sea. Sci. Total Environ. 40 155-167. 

Sunderland EM, Chmura GL (2000) The history of mercury emissions from fuel combustion in Maritime Canada. Environmental Pollution 110 297-306... 

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