Trans-provincial health impacts of atmospheric mercury emissions in China

TLDR

Mercury exposure poses substantial risks to human health. The study investigates the link between economic activities and human health to identify sources and critical processes of mercury‑related health risks, and develops a comprehensive assessment method applied to mainland China. We developed a comprehensive assessment method applied to mainland China, the largest global mercury emitter. The assessment mapped mercury‑related health risks in China, estimating 0.14 IQ‑point decrements and 7,360 heart‑attack deaths in 2010, and showed that interprovincial trade significantly influences these risks, underscoring the need for policy interventions across the supply chain.

Abstract

Abstract Mercury (Hg) exposure poses substantial risks to human health. Investigating a longer chain from economic activities to human health can reveal the sources and critical processes of Hg-related health risks. Thus, we develop a more comprehensive assessment method which is applied to mainland China—the largest global Hg emitter. We present a map of Hg-related health risks in China and estimate that 0.14 points of per-foetus intelligence quotient (IQ) decrements and 7,360 deaths from fatal heart attacks are related to the intake of methylmercury in 2010. This study, for the first time, reveals the significant impacts of interprovincial trade on Hg-related health risks across the whole country. For instance, interprovincial trade induced by final consumption prevents 0.39 × 10 −2 points for per-foetus IQ decrements and 194 deaths from fatal heart attacks. These findings highlight the importance of policy decisions in different stages of economic supply chains to reduce Hg-related health risks.