Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Quick fixes for quicksilver

W C Holton

    Environmental Health Perspectives
    |February 11, 1998
    PubMed
    Summary

    Mercury pollution from human activities like incineration and fossil fuel burning is a growing environmental issue. A significant amount of mercury waste ends up in landfills, posing long-term ecological risks.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Nonoxide chalcogenide glass films for integrated optics.

    Applied optics·2010
    Same author

    Unlawful lab leftovers.

    Environmental health perspectives·2001
    Same author

    Special treatment: disposing of CCA-treated wood.

    Environmental health perspectives·2001
    Same author

    Fresh ideas for food safety.

    Environmental health perspectives·2001
    Same author

    Fresh ideas for food safety.

    Environmental health perspectives·2001
    Same author

    Trusting in a better future: the global environment facility.

    Environmental health perspectives·2000

    Area of Science:

    • Environmental Science
    • Toxicology
    • Waste Management

    Background:

    • Mercury pollution presents a persistent and escalating global environmental challenge.
    • Key anthropogenic sources contributing to mercury contamination include industrial incinerators, fossil fuel combustion facilities, and municipal wastewater systems.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To highlight the significant contribution of municipal solid waste to mercury pollution.
    • To quantify the amount of mercury disposed of in landfills from municipal solid waste.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of data on mercury disposal in municipal solid waste.
    • Review of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates regarding mercury waste streams.

    Main Results:

    • In 1989, an estimated 643,000 kg of mercury was discarded as municipal solid waste.
    • A substantial majority, 84%, of this mercury waste was directed to landfills.

    Conclusions:

    • Landfilling represents a major disposal route for mercury-containing municipal solid waste.
    • The significant landfilling of mercury underscores the need for improved waste management strategies to mitigate environmental mercury contamination.

    Related Experiment Videos