Status of research on air quality: mercury, trace elements, and particulate matter

The Air Quality Conference reviewed the state of science and policy on the pollutants mercury, trace elements. and particulate matter (PM) in the envi ronment. Critical issues dealing with impacts on health and ecosystems, emi ssion prevention and control, measurement methods, and atmospheric reaction s and modeling were addressed. US Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, in a keynote address discussed challenges to a deregulated power industry posed by the air quality issues of fine particulates, ozone transport, acid gase s, hazardous air pollutants, and carbon emissions. The role and importance of sound science to establish environmental policy was clearly emphasized t hroughout the conference in technical papers; in policy presentations by Se nator Kent Conrad (D-ND), Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and Mr. Dirk Forrist er, Chairman of the White House Climate Change Task Force; and in the panel discussions. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserv ed.