| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺北科技大學 === 環境工程與管理研究所 === 99 === Mercury is one of the most toxic substances for it is not only with high toxicity but also bioaccumulation; hence it is always the focal point among the global environmental protection issues. Although creating great impact on human body and environment, mercury is still widely used in various industries, products, processes, and some drugs around the world. In this study, mercury’s material flow analysis and life cycle impact assessment were conducted for analyzing and exploring the hazards of mercury and try to understand the distribution and fate of mercury in economic activities and in the environment. The results of this study could be the basis for drafting strategies and provide proper suggestions in mercury’s life cycle management regulating and controlling mercury.
Results show that there is no mercury mining in Taiwan; exploitations are related to some mercury-contented raw materials and its amount is only 392 kg. Most mercury raw materials used in Taiwan depend on importation and its amount is 6,555,518 kg while the total amount for mercury exportation is 3,403,015 kg. The major pollutants of mercury in environmental circle are air, water and soil. The results also showed that the total amount of mercury emit to the air, water body and soil are 1,515 kg, 20.24 kg and 2,306 kg, respectively. There are 335 kg mercury related wastes were identified through industrial waste declaration. Only 0.047 kg of mercury was back to the industrial process and there are 92 kg for offshore treatments. Besides, the net accumulation of mercury was 3,149,031 kg.
For evaluating environmental impact of mercury to the environment, results from life cycle assessment by midpoint and endpoint characterization methods showed that both methods predicted water body has less impact than air and soil. The main impact of mercury was found to be in atmosphere by using midpoint characterization method and in soil by endpoint characterization method. Therefore, it is suggested that in order to improve the mercury emission to the environment, management and measures should be focusing on air and soil.
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