Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich , Zurich CH-8093, Switzerland.
Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Aug 6;47(15):8105-13. doi: 10.1021/es401006k. Epub 2013 Jul 25.
India is a major emitter of mercury, a pollutant of global importance. However, quantitative information on mercury flows in the country is lacking. Here, we quantify major transfer pathways for anthropogenic mercury, its emissions to the environment (air, water, soil), and storage in consumer products and anthropogenic sinks (e.g., landfills) in India in the period 2001-2020, and evaluate the potential influence of six pollution control measures. Total mercury emissions in India were approximately 415 tonnes in 2001, 310 tonnes in 2010, and are projected to rise to 540 tonnes in 2020. In 2010, 76% of these emissions went to the atmosphere. The most important emission sources to atmosphere are coal power plants and zinc production. Pesticides were the most important source for emissions to soil in 2005 and dental amalgam in later years. Mercury stocks in products rose from 700 tonnes in 2001 to 1125 tonnes in 2010, and in landfills and ash-made structures (e.g., embankments) from 920 tonnes in 2001 to 1450 tonnes in 2010. These stocks are expected to rise further and may be regarded as stored toxicity, which may become a concern in the future. Total mercury emissions can be reduced by about 50% by combining pollution control measures that target different mercury emission sources.
印度是汞的主要排放国之一，汞是一种具有全球重要性的污染物。然而，该国关于汞通量的定量信息却很缺乏。在这里，我们量化了 2001-2020 年印度人为汞的主要转移途径、向环境（空气、水、土壤）的排放及其在消费产品和人为汇（如垃圾填埋场）中的储存，并评估了六项污染控制措施的潜在影响。印度的人为汞排放量在 2001 年约为 415 吨，2010 年为 310 吨，预计到 2020 年将上升到 540 吨。2010 年，这些排放量中有 76%排放到大气中。对大气最重要的排放源是火力发电厂和锌生产。2005 年，农药是向土壤排放的最重要来源，而在后来的年份，牙科汞齐则是最重要的来源。2001 年，产品中的汞存量从 700 吨增加到 2010 年的 1125 吨，而在垃圾填埋场和灰渣制成的结构（如堤坝）中的汞存量从 2001 年的 920 吨增加到 2010 年的 1450 吨。预计这些存量还会进一步增加，并可能在未来成为关注的焦点。通过结合针对不同汞排放源的污染控制措施，人为汞排放量可减少约 50%。
