Summary

The previous chapters of this report give an overview of mercury (Hg) cycling in the environment (Chapter B1), a review of the environmental measurements of mercury to date (Chapter B2), an overview of the various types of mercury emissions to the atmosphere and their magnitude (Chapter B3), the results of the HTAP intercomparison of global and hemispheric mercury models (Chapter B4), and a summary of known environmental and health impacts of mercury, especially methylmercury (MeHg) (Chapter B5). Even though the authors of these chapters approached the problem of mercury in the environment from quite different starting points and perspectives, their findings, and associated recommendations, show a remarkable consensus in their identification of the major issues confronting the mercury research community. The research to date, described in the previous chapters shows that mercury transport on a hemispherical scale hinges on the magnitude or rate of the emission, reaction, deposition and re-emission of mercury. In addition, new research has begun to demonstrate the importance of large-scale oceanographic transport for inter-hemispheric transport (Chapter B5).

Related Subject(s): Transportation and Public Safety