pictorial representation of the atmospheric mercury cycling
(USEPA, 2000). The majority of mercury is emitted in air with
coal fired power plants being the major source. Other important
air polluters include waste incinerators, industrial and
domestic utility boilers, and chlor-alkali plants. However, a
majority of mercury emitted in air (in elemental or inorganic
form) is deposited into various water bodies such as lakes,
rivers and oceans due to the processes of dry and wet deposition.
These water bodies are simultaneously also enriched
in mercury by industrial waste water discharge, storm water
runoffs and agricultural runoffs.