Abstract
This paper reviews the history of Hg contamination in Brazil by characterizing and quantifying two major sources of Hg emissions to the environment: industrial sources and gold mining, industry was responsible for nearly 100% of total Hg emissions from the late 1940's to the early 1970's, when efficient control policies were enforced, leading to a decrease in emissions. Gold mining, on the other hand was nearly insignificant as a Hg source up to the late 1970's, but is presently responsible for over 80% of total emissions. Presently, over 210 t of Hg are released into the environment in Brazil annually. Nearly 170 t come from gold mining operations. 17 t come from chlor-alkali industry and 10 t come from all other industrial uses. Emissions to the atmosphere are the major pathway of Hg releases to the environment and reach over 160 t.yr-1 with approximately 136 t.yr-1 from gold mining.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bezerra, J.F.M.: 1990, In: Hacon, S., Lacerda, L.D., Carvalho, D. and Pfeiffer, W.C. (eds.), Riscos e Consequências do Uso do Mercúrio, FINEP/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, 91.
Boldrini, C.V., Padua, H.B., Pereira, D.N., Rezende, E.K. and Juras, A.A.: 1983, Rev. DAE. 135:106.
Boldrini, C.V.: 1990, In: Hacon, S., Lacerda, L.D., Pfeiffer, W.C. and Carvalho, D. (eds.), Riscos e Consequências do Uso do Mercúrio, FINEP/UFRJ, Rio De Janeiro, 161.
CETESB.: 1980, Avaliacão da Contaminacão Atual dos Rios Moji-guacú e Pardo e seus Reflexos sobre Comunidades Biológicas, Comp. Est. Tecnol. San. Bas., São Paulo.
CETESB.: 1989, Avaliacão do Quadro de Contaminacão por Mercúrio nos Rios Pardo e Moji-guacú (SP). Comp. Est. Tecnol. San. Bas., São Paulo.
Clearly, D.: 1990, Anatomy of the Amazon Gold Rush. The Mcmillan Press Ltd., London.
Eysink, G.G.J.: 1990, In: Hacon, S., Lacerda, L.D., Pfeiffer, W.C. and Carvalho, D. (eds.). Riscos e Consequencias do Uso de Mercúrio. FINEP/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, 28.
Farid, L.H., Machado, J.E.B. and Silva, A.O.: 1991. In: Proc. Intern. Symp. Environm. Studies on Tropical Rain Forests. Biosfera Ed., Rio de Janeiro, 217.
Fernandes, F.R.C. and Portella, I.C.M.H.M.: 1991, Recursos Minerais da Amazònia: Alguns Dados sobre Situacão e Perspectivas. Estudos e Docunebtos no 14. CETEM/CNPq, Rio de Janeiro.
Ferreira, R.C.H. and Appel, L.E.: 1991, In: Ann. I Inter. Symp. Environm. Study on Tropical Rain Forests, Manaus, 207.
Hannai, M.: 1993, In: Impactos Ambientais da Mineracão e Metalurgia. CETEM/CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, 175.
Lacerda, L.D.: 1995a, Nature. 374:20.
Lacerda, L.D.: 1995b, In: Proc. 10th Intern Conf. Heavy Metals in the Environment, Hamburg, 1:379-382.
Lacerda, L.D.: 1996. Global mercury emissions from gold and silver mining. Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. This volume.
Lacerda, L.D. and Salomons, W.: 1991, Mercury in the amazon: a Chemical Time Bomb? Duth Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment, Haren.
Lacerda, L.D., Salomons, W., Pfeiffer, W.C. and Bastos, W.R.: 1992, Biogeochemistry 14:71.
Lacerda, L.D., Carvalho, C.E.V., Rezende, C.E. and Pfeiffer, W.C.: 1993, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 26:220.
Mallas, J. and Benedicto, N.: 1986, Mercury and gold mining in the Brazillian Amazon. Ambio. 15:248.
Malm, O., Pfeiffer, W.C., Souza, C.M.M. and Reuther, R.: 1990, Ambio. 19:11.
Marins, R.V., Imbassay, J.A., Pfeiffer, W.C. and Bastos, W.R.: 1991, In: Proc. I Inter. Simp. Environm. Studies Tropical Forest. Manaus, 199.
Nriagu, J.O.: 1990, Environment. 32:7.
Nriagu, J.O.: 1993, Nature. 363:589.
Nriagu, J.O. and Pacyna, J.M.: 1988, Nature. 337:134.
Pacyna, J.M.: 1984, In: Nriagu, J.O. and Davidson, C.I. (eds.). Toxic Metals in the Atmosphere. Wiley, New York.
Pfeiffer, W.C. and Lacerda, L.D.: 1988, Environm. Technol. Lett. 9:325.
Rasmussen, P.E.: 1994, Environm. Sci. Technol. 28:2233.
Salomons, W. and Förstner, U.: 1984. Metals in the Hydrocycle. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
SCOPE: 1985, Rapporteur's Report-Mercury. Sci. Comm. Problems Environm. Toronto, 16.
Simonsen, R.C.: 1962, Historia Econômica do Brasil. Compania Editora Nacional, São Paulo.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lacerda, L. Evolution of Mercury Contamination in Brazil. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 97, 247–255 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018359023517
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018359023517