Slide background
Slide background
Slide background
Slide background




Mercury in Europe’s environment

ID 6881 | | Visite: 1845 | Legislazione acquePermalink: https://www.certifico.com/id/6881

Mercury in Europe s environment

Mercury in Europe’s environment

A priority for European and global action

The EEA report ‘Mercury in Europe’s environment – A priority for European and global action’ describes the problem of mercury pollution and the challenges in addressing the issue globally.

According to the report, mercury presents the biggest risk in rivers, lakes and oceans where it takes a highly toxic form that is absorbed by animals, including fish. The most recent monitoring data for water bodies shows that nearly 46 000 surface water bodies in the EU, out of approximately 111 000, are not meeting mercury levels set to protect fish-eating birds and mammals.

Humans become exposed to mercury mainly when they eat large predator fish, such as tuna or monkfish, that have been eating smaller fish with mercury in their bodies. Mercury presents a particular and significant risk to the neurological development of foetuses, newborn babies and children.

Current emissions of mercury in Europe are mostly limited to combustion of solid fuels, including coal, lignite and wood, the report says. However, globally mercury emissions are much higher, due to emissions from additional sources such as small-scale gold mining and industrial processes.

One of the main problems with mercury is its persistency, the report explains. Once it is released into the environment, for example through coal burning, mercury can circulate through air, land, water and animals for thousands of years. The current levels of mercury in the atmosphere are up to 500 % above natural levels. In the oceans, the concentrations of mercury are about 200 % above natural levels.

The report reminds that, even with immediate global action, it will take a very long time before mercury pollution declines to pre-industrial levels. As such, it is important to follow food safety advice that maximises the health benefits of eating fish while minimising exposure to mercury. In addition, consumers should pay attention to properly disposing of materials that contain mercury, such as some light bulbs and batteries, and consider alternatives to solid fuel burning for heating.

The European Union has already banned or limited the use of mercury in many products and industrial processes. The Minamata Convention on Mercury, which has as been signed by more than 120 countries and came into force in 2017, is the main global initiative to protect human health and the environment from mercury. It requires countries to put in place controls and reductions across a range of products, processes and industries where mercury is used, released or emitted.

EEA 2018

Collegati


DescrizioneLinguaDimensioneDownloads
Scarica questo file (Mercury in Europe s environment.pdf)Mercury in Europe s environment
EEA 2018
EN4256 kB545

Tags: Ambiente Acque Convenzione Minamata

Articoli correlati

Ultimi archiviati Ambiente

Arsenico   Contaminazione ed esposizione ambientale
Mar 15, 2023 79

Arsenico: contaminazione ed esposizione ambientale

Arsenico: contaminazione ed esposizione ambientale ID 19217 | 15.03.2023 / In allegato INAIL 2010 L’Arsenico (As) è un metalloide la cui presenza è ampiamente rilevabile in tutte le matrici ambientali. In natura si trova solitamente in piccole quantità, nelle rocce, nei suoli, nelle polveri e… Leggi tutto
Regolamento di esecuzione UE 2023 574
Mar 14, 2023 87

Regolamento di esecuzione (UE) 2023/574

Regolamento di esecuzione (UE) 2023/574 / Coformulanti inaccettabili nei prodotti fitosanitari ID 19206 | 14.03.2023 Regolamento di esecuzione (UE) 2023/574 della Commissione del 13 marzo 2023 che stabilisce norme dettagliate per l’identificazione dei coformulanti inaccettabili nei prodotti… Leggi tutto
Il problema delle materie prime critiche per la transizione ecologica
Mar 13, 2023 67

Il problema delle materie prime critiche per la transizione ecologica

Il problema delle materie prime critiche per la transizione ecologica / ENEA 2023 ID 19202 | 13.03.2023 Il testo si propone come rassegna ragionata, corredata delle informazioni statistiche disponibili, circa il tema delle “materie prime critiche” (Critical Raw Materials, CRM), con particolare… Leggi tutto
Mar 11, 2023 143

BREF Production of large volume inorganic chemicals

BREF For the production of large volume inorganic chemicals (LVIC BREF) ID 19193 | 10.03.2023 / MR 01.2023 Kick-off Meeting for the drawing up of the LVIC BREF The Technical Working Group (TWG) for the drawing up of the Best Available Techniques Reference Document for the Production of Large Volume… Leggi tutto
Il Mare
Mar 10, 2023 104

Il mare / UNMIG

Il mare / UNMIG / 3a Ed. 2020 ID 19191 | 10.03.2023 / UNMIG - Ufficio Nazionale Minerario Idrocarburi e Georisorse - MISE - Il mare - UNMIG 3a Ed. 2020- Il mare - UNMIG 2a Ed. 2015- Il mare - UNMIG 1a Ed. 2013________ La Strategia per l’Economia Blu riconosce che i mari e gli oceani rappresentano… Leggi tutto

Più letti Ambiente