Title :
Methylmercury risk assessment issues
Author :
Lipfert, Frederick W. ; Saroff, Lawrence
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Appl. Sci., Brookhaven Nat. Lab., Upton, NY, USA
Abstract :
This paper reviews the general background of health risks associated with mercury (Hg), primarily methylmercury (MeHg), with a view towards application to advanced technologies that could reduce any contributions from coal combustion. The need for accurate assessment of such risks is discussed, since Hg is now widely dispersed in the environment and cannot easily be eliminated. The primary pathway of MeHg intake is through eating contaminated fish. The issues of concern include identification of critical health outcomes (various neurological indices) and their confounding factors, accurate assessment of MeHg intake rates, and appropriate use of dose-response functions. Ultimately, such information will be used to evaluate alternative steam power plant coal combustion systems
Keywords :
air pollution; coal; combustion; ecology; health hazards; mercury (metal); safety; steam power stations; contaminated fish; critical health outcomes; dose-response functions; environment; health risk assessment; intake rates; methylmercury; neurological indices; steam power plant coal combustion systems; Combustion; Commercialization; Fault location; Fossil fuels; Laboratories; Lead; Marine animals; Mercury (metals); Power industry; Risk management;
Conference_Titel :
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1996. IECEC 96., Proceedings of the 31st Intersociety
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3547-3
DOI :
10.1109/IECEC.1996.553561
