The Global Mercury Assessment report responds to the request of the Governing Council of UNEP, through GC decision 21/5, that UNEP undertake a global assessment of mercury and mercury compounds, in cooperation with other members of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). As part of the implementation of GC decision 21/5, UNEP established a Global Mercury Assessment Working Group to assist in the drafting and finalization of this report, first through a comment round by mail, then through a meeting of the Working Group, which took place 9-13 September 2002 in Ge