Emissions

Mercury vapor can travel hundreds or thousands of miles before getting deposited back to the earth’s surface.  Even then, it can be re-emitted and “grasshopper” to another location.  Mercury emissions have different characteristics depending on the source and the chemistry involved during emission/release. 

Links provide information on sources, fate and transport of mercury.

 

Reports

Inventory of Anthropogenic Mercury Emissions in the Northeast, NESCAUM (Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management), November 2005.

This report from a consortium of northeastern government agencies states that over 10,000 pounds of mercury are still released to the air in northeast states each year. It points to several substantial sources of mercury pollution that have not yet been adequately addressed and shows that waste incineration and dental mercury use account for over one-third of the mercury pollution still occurring in the region, while another 20% is emitted from coal-fired power plants across the region.