Resolving the Hg threat with communities

Abstract
Most environmental studies dealing with the impact of heavy metals in the environment limit their scope to certain aspects of the biogeochemical cycle of these pollutants, often neglecting to put in perspective their behaviour at the ecosystem level, and disregarding the role that humans do play in these cycles. Using recent breakthrough in technologies and a community oriented approach, the Collaborative Mercury Research Network (COMERN) built, since the beginning of its activities in 2001, an innovative communication plan enabling population to orient scientific research development on mercury at the regional level, and to increase their awareness of the risks associated with the presence of this contaminant in their surroundings. Through this approach, scientific evidences, traditional knowledge and educational tools are assembled to generate realistic solutions that could lower the exposure levels of communities to mercury and improve the quality oftheir environment.