Table 1.

Cost of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) exposure using a logarithmic model.

	Segment of population (percentile)
Variable	90–92.1 Hg	92.2–94.9 Hg	95–99.3 Hg	≥99.4 Hg
Range of maternal total Hg concentration	4.84–5.8 μg/L	5.8–7.13 μg/L	7.13–15.0 μg/L	> 15.0 μg/L
Assumed maternal total Hg concentration	4.84	5.8	7.13	15
No effect concentration (maternal total Hg)	3.41	3.41	3.41	3.41
IQ points lost at assumed concentration	0.76	1.15	1.60	3.21
Loss of 1 IQ points = decrease in lifetime earnings
For boys, lifetime earnings (1.931% decrease)	$1,032,002
For girls, lifetime earnings (3.225% decrease)	$763,468
No. of boys in birth cohort affected	45,693	58,155	91,387	12,462
No. of girls in birth cohort affected	43,601	55,492	87,201	11,891
Lost income	$1.1 billion	$2.0 billion	$4.4 billion	$1.2 billion
Total cost = $8.7 billion in each year’s birth cohort

Assumptions: EAF = 70%, main consequence = loss of IQ over lifetime.