Abstract:
The Canadian Mercury Science Assessment is the
first comprehensive scientific evaluation and synthesis
of mercury (Hg) in the Canadian environment. The
assessment is the outcome of a partnership between
the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda (CARA) Mercury
Science Program, led by Environment Canada,
and the Canadian Arctic Northern Contaminants
Program (NCP), led by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern
Development Canada. The CARA Mercury Science
Program was developed in 2007 to establish the
scientific knowledge base to support regulatory
decision-making for Hg. The intention of the program
was to (1) determine key indicators of the effects
of atmospheric emissions of Hg on environmental
quality and human health; (2) measure current and
past levels of these indicators; and (3) develop the
capacity to predict changes in these indicators
associated with changes in levels of atmospheric
emissions of Hg or in the receiving environment
(Morrison, 2011). The geographic focus of the CARA
Mercury Science Program was south of the Arctic
Circle. The NCP was established in 1991 in response
to concerns about human exposure to elevated levels
of contaminants, such as Hg, in fish and wildlife
species that are important to the traditional diets of
northern aboriginal people. Since its beginning, this
program has supported significant research on the
transport, transformation, and fate of Hg in Canadian
Arctic ecosystems (NCP, 2012). The geographic focus
of the NCP program is north of the Arctic Circle, and
the program is complementary to the CARA Mercury
Science Program. Monitoring and research in support
of these 2 programs provide the foundation of this
assessment, a foundation augmented by science
supported by other Environment Canada programs,
Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries
and Oceans Canada, provincial and territorial
governments, the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council, International Polar Year,
and industry.
