Spatially Explicit Global Hotspots Driving China’s Mercury Related Health Impacts

Over 100 nations signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury to control the adverse effects of mercury (Hg) emissions on human beings. A spatially explicit analysis is needed to identify the specific sources and distribution of Hg-related health impacts. This study maps China’s Hg-related health impac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2020-11, Vol.54 (22), p.14547-14557
Main Authors: Li, Yumeng, Chen, Long, Liang, Sai, Qi, Jianchuan, Zhou, Haifeng, Feng, Cuiyang, Yang, Xuechun, Wu, Xiaohui, Mi, Zhifu, Yang, Zhifeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Automobile Driving
China
Diet
Dietary intake
Ecotoxicology and Public Health
Environmental law
Food intake
Heterogeneity
Humans
Intelligence
International Cooperation
International law
Land area
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
Mercury - analysis
Myocardial infarction
Policy
Quotients
Spatial discrimination
Spatial heterogeneity
Spatial resolution
Supply chains
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Summary:Over 100 nations signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury to control the adverse effects of mercury (Hg) emissions on human beings. A spatially explicit analysis is needed to identify the specific sources and distribution of Hg-related health impacts. This study maps China’s Hg-related health impacts and global supply chain drivers (i.e., global final consumers and primary suppliers) at a high spatial resolution. Here we show significant spatial heterogeneity in hotspots of China’s Hg-related health impacts. Approximately 1% of the land area holds only 40% of the Chinese population but nearly 70% of the fatal heart attack deaths in China. Moreover, approximately 3% of the land area holds nearly 60% of the population but 70% of the intelligence quotient (IQ) decrements. The distribution of hotspots of China’s Hg-related health impacts and global supply chain drivers are influenced by various factors including population, economy, transportation, resources, and dietary intake habits. These spatially explicit hotspots can support more effective policies in various stages of the global supply chains and more effective international cooperation to reduce Hg-related health impacts. This can facilitate the successful implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.0c04658