文章基本信息

标题：Global health impact of atmospheric mercury emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining
本地全文：下载
作者：Qiaotong Pang ; Jing Gu ; Haikun Wang 等
期刊名称：iScience
印刷版ISSN：2589-0042
出版年度：2022
卷号：25
期号：9
页码：1-12
DOI：10.1016/j.isci.2022.104881
语种：English
出版社：Elsevier
摘要：SummaryArtisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the leading source of mercury (Hg), a global neurotoxin. Past research has focused on the health impacts on miners and nearby residents; here, we estimate the risk for global general populations by employing a comprehensive atmosphere-land-ocean-ecosystem and exposure-risk-valuation model framework. Our results suggest that ASGM sources contribute 12%, 10%, and 0.63% to the atmospheric Hg deposition, plankton methylmercury concentrations, and soil total Hg concentrations at present day, respectively, and cause 5.8×105points of intelligence quotient decrements and 1,430 deaths for global general populations per year. The monetized global health impact of ASGM ($154 billion) is 1.5 times its local impact and accounts for half of the total revenue of ASGM ($319 billion). A major spatial decoupling between the health impact and economic gains is also revealed, suggesting that intervention measures such as awareness-raising, capacity-building, and technology transfer funded by the Global North are cost-effective.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Contributions of ASGM to MeHg concentrations in different organisms are calculated•The global health impact of atmospheric Hg from ASGM is first revealed•The health impacts and economic gains of ASGM are compared•Intervention measures for ASGM are proved to be cost-effectiveEnvironmental chemistry; Environmental health; Pollution