ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS OF MERCURY FROM THE CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRY IN BRAZIL

This report is the result of the partnership project (2012) between Toxisphera Environmental Health Association, EcologistasenAcción and Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG), with the collaboration of the University of Castilla la Mancha (Almadén, Ciudad Real, Spain). Measurements were made by EcologistasenAcción and the Spanish university, data analysis was done in the Heavy Metal Biogeochemistry Laboratory of the Almadén Polytechnic School of the University Castilla la Mancha, and interpretation of the results was carried out by EcologistasenAcción and the University Castilla la Mancha.

This report was prepared by Toxisphera and ACPO, and briefly describes the sources of mercury emissions into the atmosphere, the health risk from human exposure to this heavy metal, and the methodology of atmospheric mercury emission measurements taken around four large chlor-alkali factories located in Brazil that still use mercury electrolytic cells in their industrial process.  The document also deepens the discussion on the socio-environmental implications of chlor-alkali production.

(Portugueseversiononly)