A new WHO report entitled “Health Risks of heavy metals from long-range transboundary air pollution” was released by the WHO Regional Office in Europe. It focuses on cadmium, lead and mercury and their relationship with long-range transboundary air pollution.

Levels of exposure, adverse health effects and respective contribution in long-range transboundary total emissions are closely examined for each metal.

Humans are contaminated by cadmium via food most of the time as cadmium is present in relatively high dose in soils. Cadmium is associated with kidney and bone failure and an increased probability of developing lung cancer.

Whereas cadmium emissions have not decreased during the last 10 years, lead emissions did. Contamination is via food and drinking water as soils are heavily polluted in lead. It is associated with developmental and neurobehavioural damage in foetus and children, as well as high blood pressure in adults.

Mercury is a powerful neurotoxicant and is mostly dangerous in organic compound form. It is present in food, especially predatory fishes such as tuna. Foetus and children are particularly vulnerable to mercury and it is widely advised for pregnant women not to consume any predatory fish. Therefore to eliminate mercury trace in fish should be a priority and could be achieved through the control of long-range transboundary air pollution.

For more information:
  Read WHO press release
  Read the report in full
  Read about the Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Convention