The Economic Cost of Mercury Pollution & Lost Income Potential
We know mercury is a threat to human health and causes brain damage, but what are the economic burdens of mercury exposure?
A recent study in the Journal of Environmental Management is the first peer-reviewed study to measure the economic burden of mercury pollution on lost productivity in developing and transition countries. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor at the New York University School of Medicine, is the lead author, noting IPEN Sr. Science and Technical Advisor, Dr. Joseph DiGangi, and others, among the co-authors.
The study evaluated mercury concentrations in hair samples from 236 participants from 17 sites in 15 countries, and estimated an annual loss of $77 - $130 million USD to these specific communities. All study participants, except those living on the Cook Islands, lived near mercury sources named in the Minamata Convention, an international treaty that aims to curb and eliminate mercury pollution to protect human health and the environment. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27594689)
Researchers stress their findings describe only the tip of the iceberg of economic burdens of mercury. The study only begins to reveal the economic costs of mercury pollution and harm to a developing brain. It underscores the need for robust national and global action to eliminate mercury from the economy and promote enforcement of the Minamata Convention.
Press Release: Mercury Pollution Costs Millions in Lost Earning Potential
