Substance flow analysis of mercury in Turkey for policy decision support

Abstract

Identification and quantification of mercury flows in Turkey are essential for better policy development regarding to the implementation of water-related legislation. To this end, substance flow analysis (SFA) of mercury in Turkey was conducted in order to identify and quantify mercury releases to different environmental compartments and help policy decision makers to better understand their options to reduce mercury flows. For the quantification of mercury flows, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Mercury Toolkit, which is develop by UNEP Chemicals Branch with the aim of assisting countries to develop their own mercury inventory, was used. Results of the study showed that a total of 34.61 t of mercury is released annually from the activities in Turkey to different environmental compartments. It was found that most of the mercury releases were to the atmosphere (74 %) and smaller amounts were to land (21 %) and to water (5 %). Mercury naturally found in the lithosphere was found to be responsible for most of the releases while intentional mercury uses have smaller shares and decreasing importance because of the phasing out of mercury.

Ultra-sensitive determination of mercury by atmospheric pressure glow discharge atomic emission spectrometry coupled with cold vapor generation

“…5,6 Most countries around the world have strengthened the control of mercury emission and pollution through legislation. [7][8][9][10][11] The Minamata Convention on Mercury clearly iden-ties the need to control and reduce global mercury emissions. 12,13 Therefore, the quantitative analysis of mercury in the environment is of great signicance.…”