Abstract:
:Being persistent, toxic, and bio-accumulative, Mercury (Hg) seriously affects the environment and human health. Due to Hg's attribute of long-range environmental transport across national borders, especially through atmospheric transport, no country can fully protect its environment and human health with its own efforts, without global cooperation. The Minamata Convention on Mercury, which was formally adopted and opened for signature in October 2013, is the only global environmental regime on the control of Hg pollution. Its main substantive control measures are source-specific: its phasing-out, phasing-down, and other main substantive requirements all direct to specific categories of pollution sources through the regulation of specific sectors of the economy and social life. This Convention does not take a national quota approach to quantify the Parties' nationwide total allowable consumption or discharge of Hg or Hg compounds, nor does it quantify their nationwide total reduction requirements. This paper attempts to find the underlying reasons for this source-specific approach and offers two interpretations. One possible interpretation is that Hg might be a non-threshold pollutant, i.e., a pollutant without a risk-free value of concentration. The existence of a reference dose (RfD), reference concentration (RfC), provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), minimal risk level (MRL) or other similar reference values of Hg does not necessarily mean that Hg cannot be regarded as non-threshold because such reference values have scientific uncertainties and may also involve policy considerations. Another interpretation is that Hg lacks a feasibly determinable total allowable quantity. There is evidence that negotiators might have treated Hg as non-threshold, or at least accepted that Hg lacks a feasibly determinable total allowable quantity: (1) The negotiators were informed about the serious situations of the current emissions, releases, and legacy deposition; (2) the UNEP Secretariat took the position that Hg is non-threshold and should be eliminated to the maximum; (3) European countries, the USA and other western countries were in a better position to regard Hg as non-threshold and push forward a global reduction of Hg emissions and releases to the minimum; (4) the negotiators took the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as a model; and (5) a fairly large number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were organized under umbrella NGO networks such as the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) and the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) and made a significant contribution to the negotiation process. The interpretations for the Minamata Convention might similarly be used to interpret the source-specific approach of the Stockholm Convention on POPs and the national quota approach of global environmental regimes on stratospheric ozone and climate mitigation. These two interpretations focus on the features of the pollutants and for this reason may be useful for future negotiators of other international environmental treaties to select appropriate models. They also suggest that the source-specific approach may be adopted in the future for pollutants with similar features of being possibly non-threshold and without a feasibly determinable total allowable quantity.
journal_name
Environ Intjournal_title
Environment internationalauthors
You Mdoi
10.1016/j.envint.2014.10.023subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2015-02-01 00:00:00pages
1-10eissn
0160-4120issn
1873-6750pii
S0160-4120(14)00317-1journal_volume
75pub_type
杂志文章abstract::To examine the levels of PCDD/DFs pollution in environmental samples in the vicinity of various incinerators, the levels of PCDD/DFs in air and soil samples collected near 17 incinerators and stack emission gases were investigated between 2003 and 2006. A total of 434 soil, 28 stack emission gas, and 38 air samples we...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2007.08.002
更新日期:2008-02-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Several studies have explored the associations of greenness with blood lipids. However, the evidence is still limited and mixed, especially in rural areas. METHODS:From May to September 2016, we recruited 4735 Uyghur adults from rural areas of ...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105903
更新日期:2020-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::A risk assessment strategy considering the impact of chemicals on the whole ecosystem has been developed in order to create a sound and useful method for quantifying and comparing the global risk posed by the main different hazardous chemicals found in the environment. This index, called Environmental Risk Index for C...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2010.04.019
更新日期:2010-10-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Previous studies have suggested that phthalates might disrupt fetal steroidogenesis. However, the evidence of the effects of prenatal phthalate exposure across pregnancy on fetal glucocorticoids was insufficient. OBJECTIVE:We investigated the associations between urinary phthalate metabolites across pregnan...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.037
更新日期:2018-12-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been linked to the onset of cardiovascular, endocrine, and metabolic diseases, but no conclusive evidence has been provided so far. A chemical factory produced PCBs from 1938 to 1984 in Brescia (North Italy) resulting in environmental contamination an...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.022
更新日期:2018-11-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Brain growth and structural organization occurs in stages beginning prenatally. Toxicants may impact neurodevelopment differently dependent upon exposure timing and fetal sex. OBJECTIVES:We implemented innovative methodology to identify sensitive windows for the associations between prenatal particulate mat...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2015.11.010
更新日期:2016-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are present in the environment as complex mixtures, which make it challenging to identify PCB congeners that may be subject to active transport processes. Here we employ a transgenic mouse model in combination with multivariate analyses to investigate if chiral PCBs 91, 95, 132, 136, 1...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2009.10.007
更新日期:2010-11-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been primarily attributed to contaminated food and drinking water. However, additional PFAS exposure pathways have been raised by a limited number of studies reporting correlations between commercial and industrial products and PFAS levels in h...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.106308
更新日期:2021-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Mercury contamination in soil, water and air is associated with potential toxicity to humans and ecosystems. Industrial activities such as coal combustion have led to increased mercury (Hg) concentrations in different environmental media. This review critically evaluates recent developments in technological approaches...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.105281
更新日期:2020-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Neonicotinoid insecticides are ubiquitous in food and the environment due to their wide use. Growing evidence suggests the adverse effects of neonicotinoids in many species, including mammals. Some studies have reported the urinary concentrations of neonicotinoids in human biological monitoring, but the potential risk...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.105399
更新日期:2020-02-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (dioxins) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with potentially adverse impact on child neurodevelopment. Whether the potential detrimental effects of dioxins and PCBs on neurodevelopment are of specific or unspecific ch...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2016.06.033
更新日期:2016-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are industrial chemicals that are produced in large quantities and used globally. Human exposure to CPs is primarily through dietary intake, especially from animal-derived food products. Even so, there is little information regarding CP concentrations in dairy products. In this study, raw s...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105466
更新日期:2020-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::This study was conducted to investigate mycotoxin exposure in children (n=220, aged 1.5-4.5years) from high mycotoxin contamination regions of Cameroon and to examine the association between the mycotoxin levels (in total 18 analytes) and several socio-demographic factors and anthropometric characteristics. A cross-se...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2013.04.002
更新日期:2013-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::Breast milk samples (n=74) from the general maternal population of Zhejiang province were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Samples were divided into urban and rural groups. Mean ∑PCDD/F, ∑PCB and ∑PBDE concent...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2011.04.004
更新日期:2012-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::Combined pollution of antibiotic and non-antibiotic pharmaceutical residues is ubiquitous in realistic polluted environments, which is regarded as a complicated emerging pollution. Herein, high-throughput sequencing and high-throughput quantitative PCR were applied to profile the overall changes in microbial communiti...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105742
更新日期:2020-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::Environmental health hazard assessments are routinely relied upon for public health decision-making. The evidence base used in these assessments is typically developed from a collection of diverse sources of information of varying quality. It is critical that literature-based evaluations consider the credibility of in...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2016.01.005
更新日期:2016-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::The concentration levels and pattern distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (DDTs), were investigated in liver of small size specimens of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from Mediterranean Sea (Ionian Sea). PCB concentrations (average: 526 ng g(-1) lipid wt) were comparable with ...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2007.11.006
更新日期:2008-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::The present study used food waste (collected from local hotels and restaurants) feed pellets in polyculture of low-trophic level fish [bighead (Aristichtys nobilis), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), and mud carp (Cirrhina molitorella)] aiming at producing safe and quality products for local consumption. The resu...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.07.001
更新日期:2014-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::Thermal treatment of plastics flame retarded with brominated compounds often lead to the formation of PBDD/F, especially if polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used. By the presence of antimony(III) oxide, water and some other metals, the amounts of PBDD/F increase. Even during the production and recycling processes of...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1016/S0160-4120(03)00117-X
更新日期:2003-09-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Whether exposure to airborne particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) could impact human fecundity is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the potential impact of PM2.5 exposure on time to pregnancy (TTP) and the prevalence of infertility in the general Chinese population. METHOD:We collected reproductive infor...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.106231
更新日期:2021-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxin that is naturally produced by phytoplankton and accumulates in seafood during harmful algal blooms. As the prevalence of DA increases in the marine environment, there is a critical need to identify seafood consumers at risk of DA poisoning. DA exposure was estimated in recreational raz...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.006
更新日期:2017-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::Cadmium exposure is associated with increased urinary calcium excretion. Hypercalciuria is recognised as a major risk factor for kidney stone formation. Increased prevalence of kidney stones among those occupationally exposed to cadmium has previously been suggested. Food is the main source of cadmium exposure in the ...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2013.06.008
更新日期:2013-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::Oil spills are serious environmental issues that potentially can cause adverse effects on marine ecosystems. In some marine areas, like the Baltic Sea, there is a large number of wrecks from the first half of the 20th century, and recent monitoring and field work have revealed release of oil from some of these wrecks....
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.02.037
更新日期:2019-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::Based on a theoretical revision of the social vulnerability concept, this article proposes a scheme of vulnerability indicators within the human environment focused on different aetiology risks. An adaptation of this generic scheme of vulnerability factors is set for the specific field of aquifer contamination risk, a...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2008.08.005
更新日期:2009-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::The effect of environmental factors affecting the population dynamic of phytoplankton population was studied seasonally in a closed freshwater pond with the natural water of Lake Kasumigaura, Japan. The predominant phytoplankton species in the pond were classified as Oscillatoria tenuis, Synedra ulna, Chlamydomonas ci...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0160-4120(01)00087-3
更新日期:2001-11-01 00:00:00
abstract::Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global concern, especially in India where the burden of infectious diseases is high and health care spending is low. Here we quantified total coliform, faecal coliforms (FC), carbapenem-resistant enteric bacteria (CRE), blaNDM-1, and three integron genes in samples collected f...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.07.004
更新日期:2018-10-01 00:00:00
abstract::Dietary exposure to persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was assessed for Chinese populations, using the total diet study (TDS) approach in 2007. Multistage random cluster sampling method was used in this study. 108 composite samples, representative of foods "as consumed" by the Chinese were analyzed for residu...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2011.05.018
更新日期:2012-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::An internally consistent dataset comprising 103 surficial estuarine sediment samples were collected from Sydney Harbour, Australia and locations south of Sydney. This paper describes the chemical characteristics of the dataset and evaluates its suitability for use in evaluating biological effects-based sediment qualit...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2005.10.006
更新日期:2006-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) have been found widely in the environment including remote marine locations. The mode of transport of PFASs to remote marine locations is a subject of considerable scientific interest. Assessment of distribution of PFASs in wet precipitation samples (i.e., rainfall and snow) col...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2013.02.005
更新日期:2013-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::Greenspace has been increasingly recognized as having numerous health benefits. However, its effects are unknown concerning sudden unexpected death (SUD), commonly referred to as sudden cardiac death, which constitutes a large proportion of mortality in the United States. Because greenspace can promote physical activi...
journal_title:Environment international
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.01.021
更新日期:2018-04-01 00:00:00