Mercury Pollution and Cleanup in the South River, Virginia: Understanding the Role of Fate and Transport in the Decision-Making Process for Environmental Remediation

Mercury pollution has detrimental effects on ecosystems and on human health. This case study describes the efforts of the South River Science Team to characterize industrial mercury pollution in the South River near Waynesboro, VA. The team studied the movement of mercury through the river ecosystem for 6 years and used their findings to help design remedial projects to reduce mercury exposure to humans and wildlife. This case study can be used to introduce concepts of mercury pollution, fate and transport, and the decisions involved in designing environmental remediation projects. Each section of the case study ends with a series of discussion questions meant to lead into the next section.