North American Pollution Blamed on Asian Development
Increasing development in Asia is being fingered as the source of a significant proportion of pollution in North America. I've linked to a CP article specifically addressing atmospheric mercury pollution. It is estimated that about 20% of Canada's atmospheric mercury is coming from Asian countries. China alone accounts for about one quarter of the world's mercury output.
The issue of pollution from developing countries is a touchy one. The West pushes for improved pollution controls in the developing countries. The developing countries respond by pointing to the West's lacklustre pollution control record in the past, and claim that it is unfair to ask them to struggle under more stringent and difficult restrictions.
Link: http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/2006/09/08/1813767-sun.html