The Northeast States and Eastern Canadian Provinces mercury study: a framework for action: summary of the Canadian chapter

The objective of this paper is to give an overview of the findings of the C anadian chapter of the Northeast States and Eastern Canadian Provinces Merc ury Study, which was conducted between 1995 and 1998. The Canadian chapter provided information on mercury emissions, sources and levels in air, water , biota and humans. Industry, governments and universities provided informa tion for the Canadian chapter. The study showed that the Northeast States a nd Eastern Canadian Provinces (NES/ECP) is a region impacted by airborne me rcury. Annual mercury emissions for the NES/ECP region are estimated to be approximately 19 t (12%) of the combined Canadian and US Pb-210-dated lake sediment cores from Atlantic Canada national anthropogenic mercury emission s of 155 t/year. showed a mercury enrichment factor of 2.5 for coastal site s with mercury increases starting in 1860. Regional mercury wet deposition for the NES/ECP region was 7-11 mu g/m(2)/year. Provincial and federal fish health advisories have been updated in the ECP for children and women of c hild-bearing age limiting the consumption of freshwater fish, as well as fr esh or frozen shark, tuna or swordfish. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.