The International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP), held periodically for over 18 years, has become the preeminent international forum for formal presentation and discussion of scientific advances concerning environmental mercury. The depth, breadth, and pace of scientific discoveries on the sources, environmental transport and fate, biogeochemical cycling, and adverse effects of mercury have increased enormously since the inaugural conference was convened in Sweden in 1990. Along with their rapid economic growths, countries such as China, India and Brazil have become major mercury emitters in the world and as such have drawn more and more attention of the scientific community as well as national governments. The public health problems that developing countries are now facing regarding mercury exposure, as a sole actor or in combination with other environmental toxicants, outweigh those posed earlier to developed nations. To date, however, most studies regarding mercury cycling in the environment and its health impacts have been conducted in the developed world. Although the scientific outcomes from these studies will benefit understanding in the developing world, the particular application of this knowledge base to the developing countries must rely on local and regional studies still to emerge. The 9th ICMGP will thus present a timely opportunity to stimulate and universalize the scientific studies on mercury as a global pollutant.