Hirai, Y.; Asari, M.; Sakai, S (2008) Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on EcoBalance, pp. 57-60
Environmental behavior of mercury depends on its chemical species. It is important to evaluate the species-specific environmental fate and exposure of mercury compounds. In this study we developed a dynamic environmental fate and exposure model for metal mercury, mercury chloride and methyl mercury (Hg(0), Hg(II), M-Hg) and calculated species-specific intake fractions (iFs) for mercury. Chemical reactions from Hg(0) to Hg(II) and so on are considered in the model. The results showed that the iFs for atmospheric emission of Hg(0) and Hg(II) at steady state were 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. The cumulative iF with time horizon 100 years for both Hg(0) and Hg(II) was about 0.1%, which suggests the very long duration of mercury exposure after their emission. The spatial range of exposure was more limited in case of Hg(II) emission than in case of Hg(0) emission.