REVIEW PAPER
Mercury cycling in the terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric environment of the Slovak Republic – an overview
1
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
2
Institute of Physical Education and Sport, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia
Corresponding author
Tatiana Kimáková
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Hygiene
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Hygiene
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2019;26(2):273-279
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Mercury release in the environment is mainly the result of human activity, particularly from coal-fired power stations, residential heating systems, waste incinerators, and as a result of mining for mercury, gold and other metals, which have led to widespread global mercury pollution. Excessive exposure to mercury is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects, including damage to the central nervous system, digestive and immune systems, and to lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
Objective:
The main aim of the study is to summarize the selected mercury sources in the environment of the Slovak Republic, regarding waste incinerators, landfill waste, crematoria, chemical plants, rivers and soils.
Brief description of state of knowledge:
Although the neurologic symptoms of Minamata disease were identified sufficiently for specialists to classify mercury as the causative agent, the acceptance of mercury´s environmental impacts will require several decades of research. Several new issues have arisen – the need for energy conservation leads to the use of fluorescent lighting, which contain mercury; emissions driven by increases in coal combustion, incineration and economic development have sent more mercury into the air, soil and water.
Conclusions:
Mercury is toxic to human health, posing a particular threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. The systematic analytical controls of contaminants in water, soil and air are important. The installation of modern cleaning technologies to comply with the maximum emission level can substantially minimized the environmental impact of incinerators. Since human cremation is also an increasing practice, further research on mercury emissions is necessary.
Mercury release in the environment is mainly the result of human activity, particularly from coal-fired power stations, residential heating systems, waste incinerators, and as a result of mining for mercury, gold and other metals, which have led to widespread global mercury pollution. Excessive exposure to mercury is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects, including damage to the central nervous system, digestive and immune systems, and to lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
Objective:
The main aim of the study is to summarize the selected mercury sources in the environment of the Slovak Republic, regarding waste incinerators, landfill waste, crematoria, chemical plants, rivers and soils.
Brief description of state of knowledge:
Although the neurologic symptoms of Minamata disease were identified sufficiently for specialists to classify mercury as the causative agent, the acceptance of mercury´s environmental impacts will require several decades of research. Several new issues have arisen – the need for energy conservation leads to the use of fluorescent lighting, which contain mercury; emissions driven by increases in coal combustion, incineration and economic development have sent more mercury into the air, soil and water.
Conclusions:
Mercury is toxic to human health, posing a particular threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. The systematic analytical controls of contaminants in water, soil and air are important. The installation of modern cleaning technologies to comply with the maximum emission level can substantially minimized the environmental impact of incinerators. Since human cremation is also an increasing practice, further research on mercury emissions is necessary.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The study was completed with the assistance of the Test Laboratory of EL Institute in Spiššká Nová Ves which performs mercury testing and sampling of foodstuff, foods, beverages, and their individual components, biological materials, waste, waters, soils, chemicals, among other materials.The research was partially supported by Cultural
and Educational Grant Agency MŠVVaŠ SR, grant number 005UPJŠ-4/2019.
REFERENCES (64)
1.
WHO (World Health Organization). Elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds: human health aspects. International Chemical Assessment Document. Geneva, 2003.
2.
Polak-Juszczak L. Mercury in fish and fish products. An evaluation of threats to customer health. Oceanol Hydrobiol Stud. 2010; 39: 93–103.
3.
Polak-Juszczak L. Chemical Characteristics of Fishes New to the Polish Market. Acta Sci Pol. Piscaria 2007; 6(2): 23–32.
4.
Polak-Juszczak L. Bioaccumulation of mercury in the trophic chain of flatfish from the Baltic Sea. Chemosphere 2012; 89: 585–591.
5.
Bank MS, ed. Mercury in the Environment: Pattern and Process. University of California Press, 2012.
6.
EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Mercury biomonitoring. Environmental Protection Agency American’s children and the Environment, Third edition, 2015. https://www.epa.gov/sites/prod... (access: 2018.10.28).
7.
Kimáková T, Kuzmová L, Nevolná Z, et al. Fish and fish products as risk factors of mercury exposure. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2018; 25(3): 488–493.
8.
Riley DM, Newby CA, Leal-Almeraz TO, et al. Assessing elemental mercury vapor exposure from cultural and religious practices. Environ Health Perspect. 2001; 109:779–784.
9.
Davidson PW, Myers GJ, Weiss B. Mercury exposure and child development outcomes. Pediatrics 2004; 13: 1023–1029.
10.
Street RA, Kabera GM, Connolly C. Metallic mercury use by South African traditional health practitioners: perceptions and practices. Environmental Health 2015; 14, 7 pages.
11.
EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). EPA and FDA Issue Final Fish Consumption Advice, 2017. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleas... (access: 2018.07.15).
12.
Mackey TK, Contreras JT, Liang BA. The Minamata Convention on Mercury: Attempting to address the global controversy of dental amalgam use and mercury waste disposal. Sci Total Environ. 2014; 472: 125–129.
13.
Tóth G, Hermann T, Da Silva MR, Montanarella L. Heavy metals in agricultural soils of the European Union with implications for food safety. Environ Int. 2016; 88: 299–309.
14.
Bencko V, Wagner V, Wagnerová M, Ondrejcák V. Immunological profiles in workers occupationally exposed to inorganic mercury. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol. 1990; 34(1): 1–15.
15.
Bencko V, Wagner V. Metals, metalloids and immunity. Methodological approaches and group diagnostics. Centr Europ J Occup Environ Med. 1995; 1(4): 327–337.
16.
Bencko V, Novák J, Suk M (Eds.) Health and natural conditions (Medicine and Geology). Praha: Dolin, 2011. (In Czech).
17.
Tchounwou PB, Yedjou CG, Patlolla AK, et al. Heavy metal toxicity and the environment. Mol Clin Environ Toxicol. 2012; 101: 133–164.
18.
Kimáková T, Bernasovská, K. Fish consumption. Hygiene. 2007; 52(3): 77–79. (In Slovak).
19.
Kimáková T. Mercury cycle in nature regarding living organism. INFOVET. 1999; 6(4): 36–38. (In Slovak).
20.
Kimáková T. The content of mercury in the muscles of different animal species. Slovakian Vet J. 2000; 25(4): 213–216. (In Slovak).
21.
Kimáková T. Analysis of mercury in milk. Proceedings of the 4th Morphological Day in Košice; 2001; Košice, Slovakia. Košice: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice; 2001. (In Slovak).
22.
Kimáková T. Analysis of mercury in non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Proceedings of the 4th Morphological Day in Košice; 2002; Košice, Slovakia. Košice: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice; 2002. (In Slovak).
23.
Kimáková T. Effect of mercury to the damage of human organism. Proceeding of the Conference School and Health for 21st Century: General Question of Health Training; 2009; Brno, Czech Republic. Brno: Masaryk University in Brno; 2009. (In Slovak).
24.
Kimáková T, Andruch V, Kaľavský F. Mercury content in seafood. Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Mineralurgy and Environmental Technologies; Herľany, Slovakia. Košice: Technical University in Košice; 2001. (In Slovak).
25.
Kimáková T, Kaľavský F. Mercury and its occurrence in individual parts of selected plants of middle Spiš. In: Using experimental methods to protect and promote the health of the population: Proceedings. Košice: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 2010. pp. 165–171. (In Slovak).
26.
Kimáková T, Cimboláková I, Farkašová Iannaccone S et al. Environment and its ethical aspects. Košice: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 2015. (In Slovak).
27.
Vollmannova A, Kujovsky M, Stanovic R, et al. Contamination of the Alluvium of the Nitra River in Slovakia by Cadmium, Mercury and Lead as a Result of Previous Intense Industrial Activity. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2016; 97: 561–568.
28.
Musilova J, Arway J, Vollmannova A, et al. Environmental Contamination by Heavy Metals in Region with Previous Mining Activity. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2016; 97: 569–575.
29.
Mukherjee AB, Zevenhoven R, Brodersen J, et al. Mercury in waste in the European Union: sources, disposal methods and risks. Resources Conserv Recycl. 2004; 42: 155–182.
30.
Pironne N, Cinnirella S, Feng X. et al. Global mercury emissions to the atmosphere from anthropogenic and natural sources. Atmos Chem Phys. 2010; 10: 5951–5964.
31.
Zhang L, Wang S, Wang L, et al. Updated Emission Inventories for Speciated Atmospheric Mercury from Anthropogenic Sources in China. Environ Sci Technol. 2015; 49(5): 3185–3194.
32.
Trasande L, DiGangi J, Evers DC, et al. Economic implications of mercury exposure in the context of the global mercury treaty: Hair mercury levels and estimated lost economic productivity in selected developing countries. J Environ Manage. 2016; 183: 229–235.
33.
Hong J, Han X, Chen Y, et al. Life cycle environmental assessment of industrial hazardous waste incineration and landfilling in China. Int J Life Cycle Assess. 2017; 22(7): 1054–1064.
34.
Blahuskova V, Vlcek J, Jancar D. Study connective capabilities of solid residues from the waste incineration. J Environ Mana. 2019; 231: 1048–1055.
35.
Zsigraiová Z, Tavares G, Semiao V, et al. Municipal solid waste incineration – contribution to sustainable development of energy and environment. Acta Metallurgica Slovaca. 2005; 11:450–459.
36.
Forastiere F, Badaloni Ch, Hoogh K, et al. Health impact assessment of waste management facilities in three European countries. Environ Health. 2011; 10:53.
37.
Aleksic D. Municipal waste management in Slovakia. European Environment Agency, https://www.eea.europa.eu/publ... (access: 2018.11.10).
38.
Lieskovská Z, Némethová, et al. State of the Environment Report of the Slovak Republic 2015. Banská Bystrica: Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic and Slovak Environmental Agency, 2016. (In Slovak).
39.
EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, 2018 https://www.epa.gov/landfills/... (access: 2018.09.25).
40.
Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic. Waste Management Program for 2016 – 2020, http://www.minzp.sk/files/sekc... (access: 2018.09.13).
41.
Szabo Š. Situation in Slovak Republic. Position Paper. SOSNA Environmental Education Center, 2016, http://www.humusz.hu/sites/def... position_paper_sk.pdf (access: 2018.05.16).
42.
Bosak M, Krajnak J, Beslerova S. Innovative approach in waste management. 14th SGEM GeoConference on Ecology, Economics, Education And Legislation; 2014 June 19–25; 2014.
43.
Decree of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 372/2015 Coll. on landfills and temporary storage of metallic mercury, 2015. (In Slovak).
44.
Hu Y, Cheng H. Mercury risk from fluorescent lamps in China: Current status and future perspective. Environ Int. 2012; 44: 141–150.
45.
Jones R. Australia felix – The discovery of a pleistocene prehistory. J Hum Evol. 1977; 6: 353–61.
46.
Smith TO, et al. The potential dangers of medical devices with current cremation practices. Eur Geriatr Med. 2012; 3: 97–102.
47.
Mari M, Domingo JL. Toxic emission from crematories – a review. Environ Int. 2010; 36(1): 131–137.
48.
Matter-Grutter C, Baillod R, Imfeld T, et al. Mercury emission measurements in a crematorium. The dentistry aspects. Schweiz Monatsschr Zahnmed 1995; 105: 1023–1028.
49.
Černá M, et al. Biomonitoring III. Results of analysis of selected toxic trace elements (Pb, Cd, Hg) in the blood of the Czech population. Czech and Slovak Hygiene. 2004; 1: 4–7. (In Czech).
50.
Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency. Overview of Slovak chemical and pharmaceutical industries, 2013, https://www.sario.sk/sites/def... chemical_industry_0.pdf (access: 2018.09.13).
51.
Maňkovská B. Mercury concentrations in forest trees from Slovakia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. 1996; 89: 267–275.
52.
Dombaiová R. Mercury and methylmercury in plants from differently contaminated sites in Slovakia. Plant Soil Environ. 2005; 51: 456–463.
53.
Melicherčík M, Melicherčíková D. Impact of the environment and the effects of substances on the human organism. Banská Bystrica: FPV UMB, 2010. 345 p. (In Slovak).
54.
Labunska I, Brigden K, Santillo D, et al. The Nováky Chemical Plant (Novácke chemické závody) as a source of mercury and organochlorine contaminants to the Nitra River, Slovakia. Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK, 2002. 45 pages.
55.
Brázová T, Torres J, Eira C, et al. Perch and Its Parasites as Heavy Metal Biomonitors in a Freshwater Environment: The Case Study of the Ružín Water Reservoir, Slovakia. Sensors. 2012; 12(3): 3068–3081.
56.
Šestinova O, Findorakova L, Hančuľák J, et al. The Water Reservoir Ružín – Accumulation of Priority Pollutants in Sediments in the Years 2010 – 2014. Proc Earth Planetary Sci. 2015; 15: 844–848.
57.
Čurlík J, Šefčík P. Geochemical atlas of the Slovak Republic. Land. Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, 1999. (In Slovak).
58.
Šefčík P, Pramuka S, Gluch A. Assessment of soil contamination in Slovakia according index of geoaccumulation. Agriculture. 2008; 54: 119–130.
59.
Takáč P, Kozáková Ľ, Vaľková M, et al. Heavy metals in the middle Spiš soils. Acta Montan Slovaca. 2008; 13: 82–86. (In Slovak).
60.
Angelovičová L, Lodenius M, Tulisalo E, et al. Effect of Heavy Metals on Soil Enzyme Activity at Different Field Conditions in Middle Spis Mining Area (Slovakia). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2014; 93: 670–675.
61.
Rapant S, Cvečková V, Dietzová Z, et al. Medical geochemistry research in Spišsko-Gemerské rudohorie Mts., Slovakia. Environ Geochem Health. 2009; 31:11–25.
62.
Klinda J, Lieskovská Z, et al. State of the Environment Report of the Slovak Republic 2013. Banská Bystrica: Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic and Slovak Environmental Agency, 2013. (In Slovak).
63.
Hauck M, Huneck S. Lichen Substances Affect Metal Adsorption in Hypogymnia physodes. J Chem Ecol. 2007; 33: 219–223.
64.
WHO (World Health Organization). Preventing disease through healthy environments. Action is needed on chemicals of major public health concern. Geneva, 2010.
| eISSN: | 1898-2263 |
| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
Improvement of visual identification of the journal - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher
© 2006-2024 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
