Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant, which is distributed worldwide primarily via atmospheric long-range transport. Via dry and wet atmospheric deposition, Hg enters terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, where it could be transformed to the highly toxic methylmercury (MeHg) by microorganisms. MeHg can be bioaccumulated and biomagnified through food chain to higher concentrations and thus becomes hazardous to human health. Although East, Southeast and South Asia are major emission sources regions of Hg to the atmospheric, many Southeast and South Asian countries are not familiar with the global Hg pollution issue. Ultra-trace level sampling and analytical techniques to quantify the concentrations and fluxes of atmospheric Hg are also lacking in these countries, which makes Southeast and South Asia a blank area of atmospheric Hg monitoring. Therefore, this project is aimed to ameliorate this situation with following objectives: (1) establishment and continue operation of the Asia-Pacific Mercury Monitoring Network (APMMN); (2) strengthen the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures of the atmospheric Hg monitoring data; (3) establishment of a platform for atmospheric Hg monitoring training in the Asia-Pacific region; (4) collection of regional atmospheric monitoring information. Based on the existing foundation in environmental protection collaboration, we worked with the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan, US Environmental Protection Administration (USEPA), and National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) on the following tasks: promote the establishment and continue operation of the APMMN; expand regional atmospheric monitoring; analyze Hg contents in air samples from regional countries; strength the QA/QC procedures; train scientists and technicians; assist regional countries with capacity building in atmospheric Hg sampling and analysis; strengthen international collaborative monitoring, and data exchange and sharing; assess the influence of regional atmospheric Hg emissions on Taiwan. Major results of the project include: (1) establishment of the Joint Center for Environmental Monitoring and Technology; (2) expansion of the Atmospheric Trace Element Research Laboratory; (3) hosting the 2016 Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring Workshop in Taiwan; (4) attended the 5th Asia-Pacific Mercury Monitoring Network (APMMN) Workshop in Thailand; (5) attended the Asia-Pacific Expert Workshop on Continuous Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring in Japan; (6) hosted the 2017 Atmospheric Hg Monitoring Training Workshop and the 6th Annual APMMN Partners Meeting in Taiwan; (7) attended the 13th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) in the U.S.; (8) visited NADP to learn advanced atmospheric Hg monitoring techniques and to instrument maintenance and operation skills; (9) attended the International Conference on Research Development and Cooperation in Geophysics (VIET-GEOPHYS-2017) in Vietnam; (10) installed a MIC-B type wet deposition sampler at the Lulin Atmospheric Background Station (LABS); (11) explored the performances of MIC-B and N-CON wet deposition samplers using collocated samplers; (12) maintained and updated the APMMN website; (13) established the Mercury Wet Deposition Network Field Standard Operating Procedures for the APMMN; (14) analyzed 279 APMMN wet deposition samples; (15) sent a technician to Thailand ERTC to help improve ultra-trace level Hg analysis; (16) sent a technician to Vietnam CEM to help improve sampling techniques and acid-wash procedures; (17) assisted the expansion of the APMMN monitoring sites; (18) compiled and evaluated regional atmospheric monitoring information; (19) assessed the influence of the exports of the East Asian atmospheric Hg emissions on Taiwan; (20) prepared a results booklet.

Capacity building, Mercury, Wet deposition