SFEI Mercury Scientists present at the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant

Jay Davis, Lester McKee, Don Yee, Nicole David, and Aroon Melwani presented at the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The presentations given by SFEI staff ranged from new developments in mercury loading through watersheds to an overview of mercury in San Francisco Bay.

The International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant is a biennial gathering of the world’s leading experts on this topic. This year’s conference included participation of over 900 scientists from 47 countries. Given the importance of mercury as a contaminant in California, as documented most thoroughly through recent studies led by SFEI, this conference provides an excellent opportunity to share our latest findings with our scientific peers and to stay abreast of recent advances in all aspects of mercury science. The broad perspective obtained at this conference provides context that is extremely valuable in understanding how to address mercury contamination in California. The conference provided an opportunity to see how researchers in other regions are dealing with similar (but also different) mercury contamination issues, including continuing developments and refinements in analytical methods (e.g., use of stable isotopes), understanding of mercury-organic matter interactions (e.g., DOC and speciation), and regional-scale evaluation of cofactors influencing methylation and bioaccumulation, which can help us choose and refine effective management actions. Participation in this conference will help to ensure we continue to attract funding for studies, continue to attract top notch external peer-reviewers for our work groups and reports and papers, continue to build and maintain important local relationships, and in fostering opportunities for collaborative studies. Jay Davis and Don Yee also participated in a separate workshop for the Coastal and Marine Mercury Ecosystem Research Collaborative, an international collaboration of scientists and stakeholders to gather and analyze data to publish papers which will elucidate key processes related to the inputs, cycling and uptake of mercury in marine ecosystems.