Leaner, J2007-08-162007-08-162007-08Leaner, J. 2007. Focus on CSIR research in pollution waste: South African mercury assessment (SAMA) programme. 2007 Stockholm World Water Week, 13-17 August 2007, pp 1http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11232007 Stockholm World Water WeekMercury pollution is a world-wide problem requiring attention at global, regional and national levels. Various anthropogenic activities release mercury into the atmosphere. It can occur as both elemental and oxidized forms, and is removed from the atmosphere by both dry and wet deposition onto land, freshwater and marine resources. Mercury can also be washed off the land (via runoff) into local water resources. In water resources mercury is quickly converted into the more toxic methylmercury form, which bioaccumulates readily in the aquatic food chain. This can pose a serious health risk to humans who may consume contaminated aquatic organisms such as fish. All of the above forms of mercury exhibit neurotoxic effects in humans, and this is particularly problematic in children and developing foetuses. The SAMA Programme aims to develop a framework for Mercury research in South Africa. The research areas addressed in the SAMA Programme include, a) regulatory framework; b) analytical methods; c) source, speciation, fate, and transport; and d) impacts (ecological and human health).enSAMASouth African mercury assessmentMercury pollutionStockholm world water week, 13-17 August 2007Conference PresentationLeaner, J. (2007). Focus on CSIR research in pollution waste: South African mercury assessment (SAMA) programme. CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1123Leaner, J. "Focus on CSIR research in pollution waste: South African mercury assessment (SAMA) programme." (2007): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1123Leaner J, Focus on CSIR research in pollution waste: South African mercury assessment (SAMA) programme; CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment 2007; 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1123 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Leaner, J AB - Mercury pollution is a world-wide problem requiring attention at global, regional and national levels. Various anthropogenic activities release mercury into the atmosphere. It can occur as both elemental and oxidized forms, and is removed from the atmosphere by both dry and wet deposition onto land, freshwater and marine resources. Mercury can also be washed off the land (via runoff) into local water resources. In water resources mercury is quickly converted into the more toxic methylmercury form, which bioaccumulates readily in the aquatic food chain. This can pose a serious health risk to humans who may consume contaminated aquatic organisms such as fish. All of the above forms of mercury exhibit neurotoxic effects in humans, and this is particularly problematic in children and developing foetuses. The SAMA Programme aims to develop a framework for Mercury research in South Africa. The research areas addressed in the SAMA Programme include, a) regulatory framework; b) analytical methods; c) source, speciation, fate, and transport; and d) impacts (ecological and human health). DA - 2007-08 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - SAMA KW - South African mercury assessment KW - Mercury pollution KW - Stockholm world water week, 13-17 August 2007 LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2007 T1 - Focus on CSIR research in pollution waste: South African mercury assessment (SAMA) programme TI - Focus on CSIR research in pollution waste: South African mercury assessment (SAMA) programme UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1123 ER -