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Mercury and the New Gold Rush in the South

  • Chapter
Biogeodynamics of Pollutants in Soils and Sediments

Part of the book series: Environmental Science ((ENVSCIENCE))

Abstract

Mercury contamination is considered one of the worst hazards among the anthropogenic impacts upon the environment. Mercury is one of the few metal pollutants which has already caused human deaths due to ingestion of contaminated food. It is estimated that globally more than 800 humans have died and more than 17 000 have been afflicted due to mercury poisoning (Lodenius 1985; D’Itri and D’Itri 1977, 1991, 1992). Also, the diverse uses of mercury have resulted in severe contamination of fish in many regions with significant economic impacts on populations depending on fisheries and other aquatic resources. It was in the fishing villages of Minamata and Niigata, where in the 1950’s and 1960’s more than 100 people died and several hundreds were handicapped for life due to consumption of mercury contaminated fish.

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Authors
  1. L. D. Lacerda
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  2. O. Malm
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  3. J. R. D. Guimarães
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  4. W. Salomons
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  5. R. D. Wilken
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. GKSS Research Center, Max Planck Straße, D-21502, Geesthacht, Germany

    Wim Salomons

  2. Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility (AB-DLO), P.O. Box 129, N-9750 AC, Haren, The Netherlands

    Wim Salomons

  3. Centre for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE), University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 50614-0293, USA

    William M. Stigliani

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Lacerda, L.D., Malm, O., Guimarães, J.R.D., Salomons, W., Wilken, R.D. (1995). Mercury and the New Gold Rush in the South. In: Salomons, W., Stigliani, W.M. (eds) Biogeodynamics of Pollutants in Soils and Sediments. Environmental Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79418-6_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79418-6_10

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