IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF MERCURY BY USING THE MULTIMEDIA MODEL IN EAST ASIA

Abstract

  Mercury emitted in the air by consuming fossil fuels is longrangely transported. As for the mercury deposited in soil and water, its concentration is rising through the feeding chain, and human beings takes mercury-condensed food. In this study, an impact assessment of mercury to Japan was studied by using MM5 and CMAQ models joined with multimedia model. According to the results, the contribution of foreign countries to mercury deposition in Japan were 30-48%. The exposure amount to Japanese via seafood was large. The contribution of foreign countries to the exposure was estimated to be 83% and the largest pass was that via seafood.