Mercury Measurement and Its Control: What We Know, Have Learned, and Need to Further Investigate

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is assessing mercury release regulations due to health concerns.
• Congressional mandates from the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) prompted extensive reports on mercury emissions.
• Despite significant research efforts by EPA, DOE, and EPRI, a definitive conclusion on mercury regulation remains elusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current, ongoing, and planned studies addressing remaining issues concerning environmental mercury.
• To focus on research directly supporting the Department of Energy/Federal Energy Technology Center's (DOE/FETC) programmatic efforts.
• To inform policy-makers by addressing key scientific uncertainties regarding mercury.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing scientific literature and regulatory assessments.
• Analysis of field measurement programs conducted by DOE and EPRI.
• Identification of research gaps in four key areas: emissions inventory, control technology, environmental fate, and health effects.

Main Results:

• A plausible link exists between anthropogenic mercury sources and adverse health effects in humans and wildlife via methylation and bioaccumulation.
• Key issues requiring further investigation include emissions inventory, control technology, environmental fate, and health effects.
• Ongoing and planned studies aim to resolve these uncertainties.

Conclusions:

• Further scientific research is crucial for evidence-based policymaking on mercury regulation.
• Addressing the identified research gaps is essential for understanding and mitigating mercury's environmental and health impacts.
• DOE/FETC programmatic efforts are central to advancing the scientific understanding of mercury in the environment.