Most of the mercury pollution in Virginia comes from air emissions that originate outside the state, a new report shows.

The General Assembly directed the state Department of Environmental Quality to produce the report. The DEQ released the two-year study today.

A contractor, ICF Resources of San Rafael, Calif., analyzed the sources of mercury.

The report found that 74 percent of the mercury falling on Virginia comes from "global and background sources," such as overseas power plants.

High mercury levels can damage the brain, kidneys and developing fetuses. People are exposed to mercury largely by eating fish from rivers tainted by air emissions.

The General Assembly is expected to take up the issue in January.

-- Rex Springston