Summary Document for the
USGS Workshop on Mercury Cycling in the Environment
Golden, Colorado,
July 7-9, 1996

CONTENTS

Preface
Scope and Objectives of the Workshop
Summary of the Technical Presentations

Concerns for Human Health
Mercury in Fish and Aquatic Food Webs
Exposure and Health Risks for Piscivorous (fish eating) Wildlife
Atmospheric Sources and Transport
Sampling and Analytical Methods for Mercury
Mercury Methylation and Demethylation
Historical Perspectives as Recorded by Lake Sediments, and the Global Mercury Cycle
Processes at the Sediment/Water Interface
Mercury-DOC Interactions

Summary of Work Group Presentations

I. Aquatic Biota, Wildlife, and Human Health Work Group


What we know
What we suspect
Critical information gaps
What is the most appropriate role for the USGS regarding the topic of methylmercury and human health?


II. Biogeochemistry and Cycling Work Group


What we know
Critical information gaps
What is the most appropriate role for the USGS regarding the topic of biogeochemical cycling?


III. Source-Transport Work Group

What we know
Critical information gaps
What is the most appropriate role for the USGS regarding the topic of sources and transport?

For more information on mercury contamination link to:

• USGS Fact Sheet on Mercury Contamination of Aquatic Ecosystems

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• Workshop Index
• Workshop Agenda
• Workshop Abstracts

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