Mercury policy and regulations for coal-fired power plants

Abstract

Mercury is a high-priority regulatory concern because of its persistence and bioaccumulation in the environment and evidence of its having serious adverse effects on the neurological development of children. Mercury is released into the atmosphere from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Coal-fired utilities are considered to be one of the largest anthropogenic mercury emission sources. The period since the late 1990s has been marked by increasing concern over mercury emissions from combustion systems to the extent that a number of national governments have either already implemented or are in the process of implementing, legislation aimed at enforcing tighter control over mercury emissions and a reduction in mercury consumption. This review examines the most important national and international policies and agreements for controlling mercury emissions from coal-fired combustion systems. To provide a global perspective, this study lists the countries with the largest estimated mercury emissions and regulatory efforts to reduce them.