Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2000-09-27

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 0309171717

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Mercury is widespread in our environment. Methylmercury, one organic form of mercury, can accumulate up the aquatic food chain and lead to high concentrations in predatory fish. When consumed by humans, contaminated fish represent a public health risk. Combustion processes, especially coal-fired power plants, are major sources of mercury contamination in the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering regulating mercury emissions from those plants. Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury reviews the health effects of methylmercury and discusses the estimation of mercury exposure from measured biomarkers, how differences between individuals affect mercury toxicity, and appropriate statistical methods for analysis of the data and thoroughly compares the epidemiological studies available on methylmercury. Included are discussions of current mercury levels on public health and a delineation of the scientific aspects and policy decisions involved in the regulation of mercury. This report is a valuable resource for individuals interested in the public health effects and regulation of mercury. The report also provides an excellent example of the implications of decisions in the risk assessment process for a larger audience.


Hidden Costs of Energy

Hidden Costs of Energy

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2010-05-26

Total Pages: 506

ISBN-13: 0309155800

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Despite the many benefits of energy, most of which are reflected in energy market prices, the production, distribution, and use of energy causes negative effects. Many of these negative effects are not reflected in energy market prices. When market failures like this occur, there may be a case for government interventions in the form of regulations, taxes, fees, tradable permits, or other instruments that will motivate recognition of these external or hidden costs. The Hidden Costs of Energy defines and evaluates key external costs and benefits that are associated with the production, distribution, and use of energy, but are not reflected in market prices. The damage estimates presented are substantial and reflect damages from air pollution associated with electricity generation, motor vehicle transportation, and heat generation. The book also considers other effects not quantified in dollar amounts, such as damages from climate change, effects of some air pollutants such as mercury, and risks to national security. While not a comprehensive guide to policy, this analysis indicates that major initiatives to further reduce other emissions, improve energy efficiency, or shift to a cleaner electricity generating mix could substantially reduce the damages of external effects. A first step in minimizing the adverse consequences of new energy technologies is to better understand these external effects and damages. The Hidden Costs of Energy will therefore be a vital informational tool for government policy makers, scientists, and economists in even the earliest stages of research and development on energy technologies.


The Power of Renewables

The Power of Renewables

Author: Chinese Academy of Engineering

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2011-01-29

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 0309160006

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The United States and China are the world's top two energy consumers and, as of 2010, the two largest economies. Consequently, they have a decisive role to play in the world's clean energy future. Both countries are also motivated by related goals, namely diversified energy portfolios, job creation, energy security, and pollution reduction, making renewable energy development an important strategy with wide-ranging implications. Given the size of their energy markets, any substantial progress the two countries make in advancing use of renewable energy will provide global benefits, in terms of enhanced technological understanding, reduced costs through expanded deployment, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to conventional generation from fossil fuels. Within this context, the U.S. National Academies, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), reviewed renewable energy development and deployment in the two countries, to highlight prospects for collaboration across the research to deployment chain and to suggest strategies which would promote more rapid and economical attainment of renewable energy goals. Main findings and concerning renewable resource assessments, technology development, environmental impacts, market infrastructure, among others, are presented. Specific recommendations have been limited to those judged to be most likely to accelerate the pace of deployment, increase cost-competitiveness, or shape the future market for renewable energy. The recommendations presented here are also pragmatic and achievable.


Technical Background Report for the Global Mercury Assessment 2013

Technical Background Report for the Global Mercury Assessment 2013

Author: United Nations Publications

Publisher: UN

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9788279710806

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This report details the technical background to the Global Mercury Assessment 2013 - Sources, Emissions, Releases and Environmental Transport (summary for policy-makers) that has been developed in response to Decision 25/5 III, paragraph 36 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), that: 'Request the Executive Director, in consultation with Governments, to update the 2008 report entitled Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport for consideration by the Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum at its twenty-seventh session.' This technical background report has been developed in collaboration with the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). As such, this report also constitutes a contribution to the work of AMAP and the Arctic Council


Mercury Emission and its Control in Chinese Coal-Fired Power Plants

Mercury Emission and its Control in Chinese Coal-Fired Power Plants

Author: Jinsong Zhou

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-01-13

Total Pages: 159

ISBN-13: 3642378749

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"Mercury Emission and its Control in Chinese Coal-Fired Power Plants" focuses on investigating mercury emissions samplings and measurement in Chinese coal-fired power plants, mercury emission estimations and future trends, mercury speciation transformation during coal combustion, mercury control and mercury stability in byproducts. The book not only introduces mercury emissions from actual coal-fired power plants, but also presents studies on the mechanism of mercury emission and its control. This is a valuable reference for engineering thermal physicists, thermal engineers, and chemical engineers. Jinsong Zhou, Zhongyang Luo, and Mengxiang Fang are Professors in the College of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, China. Yanqun Zhu is Associate Professor in the College of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, China.


Advances in Ultra-low Emission Control Technologies for Coal-Fired Power Plants

Advances in Ultra-low Emission Control Technologies for Coal-Fired Power Plants

Author: Yongsheng Zhang

Publisher: Woodhead Publishing

Published: 2019-07-12

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 0081024193

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Advances in Ultra-low Emission Control Technologies for Coal-Fired Power Plants discusses the emissions standards of dust, SO2, NOx and mercury pollution, also presenting the key technologies available to control emissions in coal-fired power plants. The practical effects of ultra-low emissions projects included help the reader understand related implications in plants. Emphasis is placed on 300MW subcritical, 600MW subcritical, 660MW supercritical and 1000MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired units. The influence of different pollutant control units, such as wet electrostatic precipitator, desulfurization equipment and the electrostatic precipitator are also analyzed, and the pollutant levels before and after retrofitted ultra-low emissions are compared throughout. - Provides a unique analysis of advanced technologies, such as dust-removal, desulfurization and denitrification used for ultra-low emissions in coal-fired power plants - Introduces emission standards for dust, SO2, NOx and Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants in China, the US and Europe - Provides solutions to reducing emissions based on technological advances in China - Analyzes the environmental and economic effects of these technologies


Coal

Coal

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2007-12-21

Total Pages: 183

ISBN-13: 030911022X

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Coal will continue to provide a major portion of energy requirements in the United States for at least the next several decades. It is imperative that accurate information describing the amount, location, and quality of the coal resources and reserves be available to fulfill energy needs. It is also important that the United States extract its coal resources efficiently, safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner. A renewed focus on federal support for coal-related research, coordinated across agencies and with the active participation of the states and industrial sector, is a critical element for each of these requirements. Coal focuses on the research and development needs and priorities in the areas of coal resource and reserve assessments, coal mining and processing, transportation of coal and coal products, and coal utilization.


Energy in Perspective

Energy in Perspective

Author: Mark Cronshaw

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-02-22

Total Pages: 235

ISBN-13: 3030635414

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This textbook provides broad coverage of energy supply and use. It discusses how energy is produced, transformed, delivered to end users, and consumed. The author discusses all of this at an undergraduate level, accessible to students of varying backgrounds. High-level and human-scale perspectives are included. As a high-level example, the book discusses the shares of global primary energy that are provided by oil, gas, coal, hydroelectricity, and renewables, as well as trends in energy consumption and supply over time. Human-scale examples will resonate with readers’ every day experiences. The link between economic development and energy consumption is presented, which facilitates understanding of how global energy consumption growth is inevitable as economic development occurs. Coverage includes separate chapters on the oil, natural gas, coal, and electricity sectors. Each of these provides high-level descriptions of the technology involved in the production of that type of energy as well as the processing and transportation that occurs to bring the energy to end users. The book discusses the technological implications of energy transitions such as increased use of renewables or changes in the use of nuclear energy using Germany and Japan as examples. It closes with a discussion of future energy use.