engleski

Environmental and health consequences of mercury air pollution

This paper deals with a fraction of results covering the heavy metal measurement in ambient air by using moss monitoring with special emphasis on mercury. Mercury and its compounds are very hazardous and even in small amounts have extremely harmful effect on human health and ecosystem. Atmosphere is an important pathway for mercury cycling in the environment while bioindicators species (lichens, moss) proved to be effective and efficient tool for mercury effect-related air quality monitoring. Identification and quantification of mercury as atmospheric pollutant in bioindicating organisms is especially important for spatially and cumulative long term monitoring of mercury concentrations in the air with purpose of reduction and/or prevention of health and ecological risks. During the year 2006 moss samples have been collected on the territory of Croatia to assess deposition and accumulation of air pollutants. The sampling points were located over the entire country and moss samples will serve as indicators of air quality and environmental changes on the area explored. The samples were analyzed with multielemental Instrumental Neutron epithermal activation analysis and cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. According to average mercury concentration 0, 064 mg/kg, minimum 0, 007 mg/kg and maximum 0, 067 mg/kg, the mercury distribution map from the Croatian moss campaign was constructed. This research aims to initiate, develop and strengthen multidisciplinary research and cooperation between environmental scientists and epidemiologists on the effective application of the moss biomonitoring for air quality assessment and mercury monitoring as a key for better understanding of the health and environmental risks and consequences of the mercury air pollution.

health and environmental risks

nije evidentirano