Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mercury policy and regulations for coal-fired power plants

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Mercury is a high-priority regulatory concern because of its persistence and bioaccumulation in the environment and evidence of its having serious adverse effects on the neurological development of children.

Discussion

Mercury is released into the atmosphere from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Coal-fired utilities are considered to be one of the largest anthropogenic mercury emission sources. The period since the late 1990s has been marked by increasing concern over mercury emissions from combustion systems to the extent that a number of national governments have either already implemented or are in the process of implementing, legislation aimed at enforcing tighter control over mercury emissions and a reduction in mercury consumption.

Conclusion

This review examines the most important national and international policies and agreements for controlling mercury emissions from coal-fired combustion systems. To provide a global perspective, this study lists the countries with the largest estimated mercury emissions and regulatory efforts to reduce them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AMAP. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (1998) A State of the Arctic Environment Report, 1997. Assessment Report: Arctic Pollution Issues, 1998. AMAP, Oslo

  • AMAP. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (2002) Heavy Metals in the Arctic. AMAP, Oslo

  • AMAP. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (2010) Updating Historical Global Inventories of Anthropogenic Mercury Emissions to Air. AMAP, Oslo

  • AMAP. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (2011) Arctic Pollution 2011. AMAP, Oslo, 38 pp.

  • Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (1989) Basel, 22 March, Annex 1

  • Brussels 11.3.2011, SEC (2011) 304 final, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL to amend Council Decision of 26 July 2010 on the participation of the European Union in negotiations of amendments to the 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution

  • CCME (2006a) Canada-wide standards for mercury emissions from coal-fired power generation plants; http://www.ccme.ca

  • CCME (2006b) Canada-wide Standards for mercury for the control of mercury emissions from the coal-fired electric power generation sector. Implementation plan for Saskatchewan; www.se.gov.sk.ca

  • China Electricity Council (2006–2009) Annual Development Report for Chinese, Electricity Power Sector

  • CHM (2004) Mercury Cycle. Chemistry of the Environment.CHM333 web page projects; http://www.princeton.edu/∼chm333/2004/Mercury/index.html

  • Clarkson TW, Magos L, Myers GJ (2003) The toxicology of mercury—current exposures and clinical manifestations. N Engl J Med 349:1731–1737

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972a) London, 13 November

  • Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (1972b) Oslo, 15 Februray

  • Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Sources (1974a) Paris, 4 June

  • Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (1974b) Helsinki, 22 March

  • Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (1976) Barcelona, 16 February

  • Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (1992) Paris, 22 September

  • Council of the European Union (2011) Council conclusions. Review of the Community Strategy concerning Mercury, 3075th ENVIRONMENT Council meeting, Brussels, 14 March 2011; http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/envir/119867.pdf

  • Davison RM, Reeve DA, Sloss LL, Smith IM (2003) Trace elements-occurrence, emissions and control. IEA Clean Coal Centre, London, pp 223–266

  • Ebinghaus R, Banic C, Beauchamp S, Jaffe D, Kock HH, Pirrone N et al (2009) Spatial coverage and temporal trends of land-based atmospheric mercury measurements in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In: Pirrone N, Mason R (eds) Mercury Fate and Transport in the Global Atmosphere, Chapter 9. Springer, New York, pp 223–291

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • EC (2000) Directive 2000/76/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4th December 2000 on the incineration of waste, Official Journal of the European Communities; http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2000:332:0091:0111:EN:PDF

  • EC (2001a) Ambient Air Pollution by Mercury (Hg)—Position Paper; http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/pdf/pp_mercury_toc.pdf

  • EC (2001b) Directive 2001/80/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 rd October 2001 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants, Official Journal of the European Communities; http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2001:309:0001:0001:EN:PDF

  • EC (2004) Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenicm cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydricarbons in ambient air, Official Journal of the European Union.

  • EC (2005) Communication from the Commission of the European Communities to the Council and the European Parliament—Community Strategy Concerning Mercury. {SEC (2205) 101}; http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0020:FIN:EN:PDF

  • EC (2008a) Environment: Commission welcomes adoption of legislation to ban EU mercury exports. Source: European Commission. Published 25 September 2008; http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/21173

  • EC (2008b) Directive 2008/1/EC of the European Parliaments and of the Council of 15 January 2008 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control, Official Journal of the European Union

  • EC (2010) Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (recast); http://www.cogeneurope.eu/wp-content/uploads//2010/03/Council-Common-Position-on-IPPC-IED_st11962.en09.pdf

  • Environment Canada (2008) Environment Canada: National Pollutant Release Inventory, Technical Report, 2008, Environment Canada, www.ec.gc.ca

  • Environment Canada (2010) Environment Canada and Health Canada. Report: Risk Management Strategy for Mercury; http://www.ec.gc.ca/doc/mercure-mercury/1241/indexe.htm #goto240

  • EPER (2000) Commission Decision of 17th July 2000 on the implementation of a EPER according to Article 15 of Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC)-(2000/479/EC). In: O. J. o. t. E. Communities (ed.); http://eper.ec.europa.eu/eper/documents/comission_17072000.pdf

  • Fang F, Wang Q, Li J (2004) Urban environmental mercury in Changchun, a metropolitan city in north-eastern China: source, cycle, and fate. Sci Total Environ 330:159–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feeley TJ, Murphy J, Hoffmann J, Granite E, Renninger S (2003) DOE/NETL’s Mercury Control Technology Research Program for Coal-Fired Power Plants. EM 16–23, October 2003

  • Feeley TJ, O’Palko BA, Jones AP (2008) Developing mercury control technology for coal-fired power plants—from concept to commercial reality. Main Group Chem 7(3):169–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feeley TJ, Jones AP, Brickett LA, O’Palko BA, Miller CE, Murphy J (2009) An update on DOE’s Phase II and Phase III mercury control technology R&D program. Fuel Process Technol 90(11):1388–1391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng X, Tang S, Shang L, Yan H, Sommar J, Lindqvist O (2003) Total gaseous mercury in the atmosphere of Guiyang, PR China. Sci Total Environ 304:61–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibb W, Quick W, Salisbury M (2003) Technology Status Review—Monitoring And Control Of Trace Elements, COAL R249 DTI/Pub URN 03/1582

  • Glodek A, Pacyna JM (2009) Mercury emission from coal-fired power plants in Poland. Atmos Environ 43:5668–5673

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • GLWQA (1972) Ottawa, 15 April

  • GLWQA (1978) (Ottawa, 22 November 1978)

  • Granite E, Pennline H (2002) Photochemical removal of mercury from flue gas. Ind Eng Chem Res 41:5470–5476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Granite E, Pennline H, Hoffman H (1999) Effects of photochemical formation of mercuric oxide. Ind Eng Chem Res 38:5034–5037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Granite E, Pennline H, Hargis R (2000) Novel sorbents for mercury removal from flue gas. Ind Eng Chem Res 39:1020–1029

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Granite E, Freeman MC, O’Dowd WJ, Hargis RA, Pennline H (2007) The thief process for removal of mercury from flue gas. J Environ Manag 84(4):628–634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • GreenFacts (2004) Scientific facts on mercury [Online]; http://www.greenfacts.org/en/mercury/l-3/mercury-2.htm#3p0 (Accessed 2010)

  • HELCOM (Helsinki Commission) (1988) Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki, 15 February 1988); All past and present HELCOM Recommendations are available on the HELCOM website: http://www.helcom.fi

  • Holmes CD, Jacob DJ, Mason RP, Jaffe DA (2009) Sources and deposition of reactive gaseous mercury in the marine atmosphere. Atmos Environ 43:2278–2285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • India Environment Portal (2011) OBSERVATION: Mercury rising, 2011, pp 1–4; http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in

  • Jiang G-B, Shi J-B, Feng X-B (2006) Mercury pollution in China: an overview of the past and current sources of the toxic metal. Environ Sci Technol 15:3672–3678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kummer K (1995) International management of hazardous wastes: the basel convention and related legal rues. Clarendon Press, Oxford

  • Lindberg S, Bullock R, Ebinghaus R, Engstrom D, Feng XB, Fitzgerald W et al (2007) A synthesis of progress and uncertainties in attributing the sources of mercury in deposition. Ambio 36:19–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linqing J (1999) Rational and clean coal use in China. Sinosphere 2(1):21–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Nadim F, Perkins C, Carley RJ, Hoag GE, Lin Y et al (2002) Atmospheric mercury monitoring survey in Beijing, China. Chemosphere 48:97–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manivannan A, Ramakrishnan L, Seehra MS, Granite E, Butler JE, Tryk DA et al (2005) Mercury detection at boron doped diamond electrodes using a rotating disk technique. J Electroanal Chem 577:287–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maroto-Valer MM, Zhang Y, Granite EJ, Tang Z, Pennline HW (2005) Effect of porous structure and surface functionality on the mercury capture of a fly ash carbon and its activated sample. Fuel 84:105–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MARPOL (1973/1978) Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 2 November 1973; http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1988/29.html

  • Masekoameng KE, Leaner J, Dabrowski J (2010) Trends in anthropogenic mercury emissions estimated for South Africa during 2000–2006. Atmos Environ 44:3007–3014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meij R, Winkel BH (2009) Trace elements in world steam coal and their behaviour in Dutch coal-fired power stations: a review. Int J Coal Geol 77:289–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mercury Policy (2009) Project-promoting policies to eliminate mercury use and reduce mercury exposure. International, Zero Hg Global Campaign, 2009, http://mercurypolicy.org/

  • Milford JB, Pienciak A (2009) After the clean air mercury rule: prospects for reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. Environ Sci Technol 43(8):2669–2673

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee AB (2008) Mercury emissions from industrial sources in India. http://www.htap.org/meetings/2008/2008_04/Presentations/07-04-08/4%20-%20Mukharjee.pdf

  • Mukherjee AB, Zevenhoven R (2006) Mercury in coal ash and its fate in the Indian subcontinent: a synoptic review. Sci Total Environ 368:384–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee AB, Bhattacharya P, Sarkar A, Zevenhoven R (2009) Mercury emissions from industrial sources in India and its effects in the environment. Springer, New York, pp 81–112, chap. 4

    Google Scholar 

  • NACAA (National Association of Clean Air Agencies) (2007) State Mercury Programs for Utilities; http://www.4cleanair.org/Documents/StateTable.pdf

  • NAP (2010) Norwegian Action Plan for reducing mercury releases—2010 http://www.klif.no/publikasjoner/2731/ta2731.pdf

  • NARAP (2000) North American Regional Action Plan on Mercury; Phase II- March 2000, http://www.cec.org/Page.asp?PageID=924&ContentID=1297

  • NEG/ECP (1998) New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers. Mercury Action Plan 1998, http://www.epa.gov/ne/eco/mercury/pdfs/Mercury_Action_Plan.pdf

  • Nelson PF (2007) Atmospheric emissions of mercury from Australian point sources. Atmos Environ 41:1717–1724

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen DL, Kim JY, Shim S-G, Zhang X-S (2011) Ground and shipboard measurements of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury over the Yellow Sea region during 2007–2008. Atmos Environ 45:253–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • OCAA. (Ontario Clean Air Alliance) (2004) Mercury rising: mercury emissions from Ontario Power Generation’s Coal-Fired Plants. An OCAA Air quality report; www.cleanairalliance.org

  • OECD (1973) Recommendation of the council on measures to reduce all man-made emissions of mercury to the environment, C(73)172/final, 18 September 1973

  • OSPAR. (Oslo-Paris Commision) (2009) Mercury losses from the chlor-alkali industry in 2007 including assessment of 2006 and 2007 data; http://www.ospar.org/documents%5Cdbase%5Cpublications%5Cp00403_Mercury%20losses%20report%202007.pdf

  • Pacyna EG, Pacyna JM, Fudala J, Strzelecka-Jastrzab E, Hlawiczka S, Panasiuk D (2006a) Mercury emissions to the atmosphere from anthropogenic sources in Europe in 2000 and their scenarios until 2020. Sci Total Environ 370:147–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pacyna EG, Pacyna JM, Steenhuisen F, Wilson S (2006b) Global anthropogenic mercury emission inventory for 2000. Atmos Environ 40:4048–4063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pacyna JM, Pacyna EG, Steenhuisen F, Wilson S (2008) Global anthropogenic emissions of mercury to the atmosphere; http://www.eoearth.org/article/Global anthropogenic emissions of mercury to the atmosphere

  • Pacyna JM, Pacyna EG, Aas W (2009) Changes of emissions and atmospheric deposition of mercury, lead, and cadmium. Atmos Environ 43:117–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pacyna EG, Pacyna JM, Sundseth K, Munthe J, Kindbom K, Wilson S et al (2010a) Global emission of mercury to the atmosphere from anthropogenic sources in 2005 and projections to 2020. Atmos Environ 44:2487–2499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pacyna JM, Sundseth K, Pacyna EG, Jozewicz W, Munthe J, Belhaj M et al (2010b) An assessment of costs and benefits associated with mercury emission reductions from major anthropogenic sources. J Air Waste Manag 60:302–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PARCOM (1990) Decision 90/3 on reducing atmospheric emissions from existing chlor-alkali plants. PARCOM, Renton

  • Pavlish JH, Hamre LL, Zhuang Y (2010) Mercury control technologies for coal combustion and gasification systems. Fuel 89:838–847

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pirrone N, Ferrara R, Hedgecock IM, Kallos G, Mamane Y, Munthe J et al (2003) Dynamic processes of mercury over the Mediterranean region: results from the Mediterranean Atmospheric Mercury Cycle System (MAMCS) project. Atmos Environ 37:21–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pirrone N, Cinnirella S, Feng X, Finkelman RB, Friedli HR, Leaner J et al (2010) Global mercury emissions to the atmosphere from anthropogenic and natural sources. Atmos Chem Phys 10:5951–5964

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PP. (Pollution Probe) (2003) Mercury in the environment: a premier. ISBN 0-919764-51-7, June 2003; pp 85; www.pollutionprobe.org

  • Presto AA, Granite EJ (2008) Noble metal catalysts for mercury oxidation in utility flue gas. Platin Met Rev 52(3):144–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Protocol for the Prevention of the Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (1976) Barcelona, 16 February

  • Protocol on Heavy Metals to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (1998) Aarhus, 24 June

  • Protocol on the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution from Land-Based Sources (1980) Athens, 17 May

  • Qi X, Lin Y, Chen J, Ye Y (2000) An evaluation of mercury emissions from the chlor-alkali indutria in China. J Environ Sci 12(Suppl):24–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Selin NE, Selin H (2006) Global politics of mercury pollution: the need for multi-scale governance. Reciel 15(3):258–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloss LL (2006) The status, trends and developments in mercury emission legislation and control in Europe. Mercury Control Technology Conference, December 11–13, 2006

  • Sloss LL (2008) Economics of mercury control, IEA coal research—The Clean Coal Centre, CCC/134. The Clean Coal Centre, London, p 51

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloss LL (2009) Impact of emissions legislation on coal-fired power plants. IEA Coal Research-The Clean Coal Centre, CCC/145, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundseth K, Pacyna JM, Pacyna EG, Munthe J, Belhaj M, Astrom S (2010) Economic benefits from decreased mercury emissions: projections for 2020. J Clean Prod 18:386–394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian HZ, Wang Y, Xue ZG, Cheng K, Qu YP, Chai FH et al (2010) Trend and characteristics of atmospheric emissions of Hg, As, and Se from coal combustion in China, 1980–2007. Atmos Chem Phys 10:11905–11919

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNECE (2000) Review of strategies and policies for air pollution abatement—executive summary; http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/conv/conclusi.htm

  • UNEP (2002) Global mercury assessment. Chemicals Branch, UNEP, Geneva, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2008a) Mercury programme: global atmospheric mercury assessment: sources, emissions and transport. http://www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/publications/default.htm

  • UNEP (2008b) The global atmospheric mercury assessment, technical report: arctic monitoring and assessment programme. Chemicals Branch, UNEP, Geneva

  • UNEP (2008c) Global mercury partnership. http://new.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=nDgVnoYrXa0%3D&tabid=3530&language=en-US

  • UNEP (2008–2009) Mercury Programme. http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/Documents/para29submissions/India-Response%20to%20questionnaire-COAL.pdf

  • UNEP (2009) Developments. Zero Hg Global Campaign; http://www.zeromercury.org/UNEP_developments/index.html

  • UNEP (2009–2010) Global mercury partnership; http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Mercury/GlobalMercuryPartnership/tabid/1253/Default.aspx

  • UNEP (2010a) Project: reducing mercury emissions from coal combustion in the energy sector; http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Mercury/PrioritiesforAction/Coalcombustion/activities/tabid/4491/language/enUS/Default.aspx

  • UNEP (2010b) Process optimization guidance document for reducing mercury emissions from coal combustion in power plants. Chemical Branch, DTIE, Geneva, Switzerland, Draft report

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2011) Global mercury programme. Reduction of mercury emissions and use from the chlor-alkali sector partnership. January 2011; http://www.eurochlor.org/upload/documents/document583.pdf

  • UNEP/GC (2004) Views submitted by governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations on the progress made on a mercury programme (UNEP/GC.23/INF/19, 23 December 2004)

  • USEPA (1997a) Mercury study report to congress, EPA-452/R-97-010 VIII. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1997b) Mercury Study Report to Congress; EPA-452/R-97-003; US EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1998) A study of hazardous air pollutant emissions from electric utility steam generating units: final report to congress; EPA-453/R-98-004a; US EPA Office of Air Planning and Standards. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2000) Regulatory finding on the emissions of hazardous air pollutants from electric utility steam generating units. Fed Regis 65:79825–79831

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2002a) Control of mercury emissions from coal-fired electric utility boilers, Technical report. EPA-600/R-01-109. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2002b) ICR data, technical report; http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/combust/utiltox/icrdata.xls

  • USEPA (2004a) Proposed national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants; and in the alternative, proposed standards of performance for new and existing stationary sources: electric utility steam generating units. Fed Regis 69:4652–4752

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2004b) Supplemental notice for the proposed national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants; and in the alternative, proposed standards of performance for new and existing stationary sources: electric utility steam generating units. Fed Regis 69:12398–12472

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2005a) National Emission Inventory (NEI). Technical Report, US EPA, www.epa.gov

  • USEPA (2005b) Revision of December 2000 regulatory finding on the emissions of hazardous air pollutants from electric utility steam generating units and the removal of coal-and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units from the Section 112(c) List. Fed Regis 70:15994–16035

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2005c) Standards of performance for new and existing stationary sources: electric utility steam generating units, final rule. Fed Regis 70:28606–28700

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2005d) Rule to reduce interstate transport of fine particulate matter and ozone (clean air interstate rule). Fed Regis 70:25162–25405

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2006) EPA’s Roadmap for mercury. I. Addressing Mercury Releases. July 2006. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0013. http://www.epa.gov/mercury/roadmap.htm

  • USEPA (2008a) State of New Jersey v. EPA, No. 05–1097 (D. C. Cir. Feb 8, 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2008b) N.C. v. EPA, 531F.3d 896 (D.C. Cir. 2008), modified on rehearing, _F.3d_, Docket No. 05–1244 (D.C. Cir. Dec. 23, 2008)

  • USEPA (2009) Clean air mercury rule: http://www.epa.gov/camr/

  • USEPA (2011) National emission standards for hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units and standards of performance for fossil-fuel-fired electric utility, industrial-commercial-institutional, and small industrial-commercial-institutional steam generating units; http://www.epa.gov/airquality/powerplanttoxics/pdfs/proposal.pdf

  • Wang S (2011) Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China. Personal communication. UNEP INC2 Technical Meeting, Chiba, Japan, January 23, 2011

  • Wang S, Zhang L, Li GH, Wu Y, Hao JM, Pirrone N et al (2010a) Mercury emission and speciation of coal-fired power plants in China. Atmos Chem Phys 10:1183–1192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Zhang L, Wu Y, Ancora MP, Zhao Y, Hao J (2010b) Synergistic mercury removal by conventional pollutant control strategies for coal-fired power plants in China. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 60(6):722–730

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1990) Environmental health criteria 101: methylmercury. World Health Organization, International Programme on Chemical Safety, Geneva; http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc101.htm

  • WHO (2003) Elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds: human health aspects. World Health Organization, Geneva, Concise international chemical assessment document 50

  • Wiederkehr P (1993) Control of hazardous air pollutants in OECD countries: a comparative policy analysis. In: Chow W, Connor KK (eds) Managing hazardous air pollutants: state of the art; Proceedings of the first international conference on managing hazardous air pollutants, Washington, DC, 4–6 Nov 1991. Lewis, Boca Raton, pp 29–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Wang S, Streets DG, Hao J, Chan M, Jiang J (2006) Trends in anthropogenic mercury emissions in China from 1995 to 2003. Environ Sci Technol 40:5312–5318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Streets DG, Wang SX, Hao JM (2010) Uncertainties in estimating mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China. Atmos Chem Phys 10:2937–2947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham for allowing us to use their research facilities. The corresponding author would like to thank the CSIC (Spain) for the award of a JAE-Doc contract.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy and Sustainability Research Division, Faculty of Engineering, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Manuela Rallo & M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer

  2. Instituto Nacional del Carbón (CSIC), C/Francisco Pintado Fe Nº 26, 33011, Oviedo, Spain

    M. Antonia Lopez-Anton

  3. Dpto. Energía, Unidad de Valorización Energética de Combustibles y Residuos, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 22, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    M. Luisa Contreras

Authors
  1. Manuela Rallo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Antonia Lopez-Anton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Luisa Contreras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Antonia Lopez-Anton.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rallo, M., Lopez-Anton, M.A., Contreras, M.L. et al. Mercury policy and regulations for coal-fired power plants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 1084–1096 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0658-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0658-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation