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EPA’S MERCURY RESEARCH STRATEGY

EPA’S MERCURY RESEARCH STRATEGY. MERCURY RESEARCH – STRATEGIC PLANNING. Research efforts guided by EPA’s Mercury Research Strategy published in 2000 Strategy goal:

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EPA’S MERCURY RESEARCH STRATEGY

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  1. EPA’S MERCURYRESEARCH STRATEGY

  2. MERCURY RESEARCH – STRATEGIC PLANNING • Research efforts guided by EPA’s Mercury Research Strategy published in 2000 • Strategy goal: • To provide information and data that reduces scientific uncertainties limiting the Agency’s ability to assess and manage mercury and methylmercury risks • http://www.epa.gov/ ORD/NRMRL/mercury/

  3. MERCURY RESEARCH AREAS • Risk Management • Fate and Transport • Human Health Effects and Exposure • Ecological Effects and Exposure • Risk Communication

  4. RISK MANAGEMENT • Combustion Research • Measure/monitor Hg emissions from incinerators and coal fired utilities • Develop control technologies • Non-Combustion Research • Identify, quantify, and estimate uncertainties for non-combustion sources of mercury

  5. FATE AND TRANSPORT • Transport • Measure/monitor near-field and long range transport • Transformation • Identify processes and rates of mercury transformations • Deposition • Measure deposition rates and forms • Bioaccumulation • Identify rates, routes, and trophic transfers

  6. HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS AND EXPOSURE • EPA Reference Dose (RfD) of 0.1 ug/kg set in 2000 and supported by National Academy of Sciences study • Research efforts focus on reducing uncertainties in exposure profiles for sensitive populations • Identifying effects of mercury in combination with other persistent, bioaccumulative toxics such as PCBs on sensory and motor functions

  7. ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS AND EXPOSURE • Research focused on identifying mechanisms and rates for mercury uptake and accumulation • Initial focus on birds (raptors) • Multi-year reproductive study on methylmercury effects on American kestrel • Expanding efforts to other wildlife

  8. RISK COMMUNICATION • Research focused on how environmental risk (such as mercury consumption) is perceived and communicated differently from other risks

  9. COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP • ORD’s research efforts coordinated with Program and Regional offices • OAR, OW, OSWER, OIA • EPA research coordinated with other Federal agencies • NIEHS, DOE, USGS • Regional monitoring and assessment activities include emphasis on stakeholder involvement • EMAP • USGCRP Regional Assessments • ECOS? Others?

  10. ORD CONTACTS • Jeff Frithsen, Chairperson, ORD Research Workgroup – 202-564-3323, frithsen.jeff@epa.gov • Herman Gibb, Lead Author, ORD Mercury Multi-Year Plan – 202-564-3334, gibb.herman@epa.gov • Stan Durkee, Member, EPA’s Mercury Task Force – 202-564-6784, durkee.stan@epa.gov

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