Standard regulatory practices limit the total concentration of toxic metals, such as mercury, when discharged from industrial sources, ignoring the importance of speciation and bioavailability. This can result in dischargers spending more on wastewater treatment than might be necessary for adequate environmental protection. In a new article by author Robin Reash, data from Brooks Applied Labs is used to support the conclusion that by utilizing analyses for bioavailable forms of mercury, such as acid-labile mercury and methylmercury, the regulatory limits imposed are likely overly conservative. The article, published in August 2018 in the SETAC journal Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, is available on-line here.
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