Mercury (Hg)is a global pollutant. As one of the significant cryospheric environmental matrix, snow-ice plays a unique role in Hg biogeochemical cycling,which has drawn a wide attention of scientists. Besides polar regions,a large aggregate of glaciers are distributed in the high elevation of mid-high latitude areas. These alpine glaciers are proximate to human residence and are sensitive to the climate change,which would readily impact the human society,water resource security and water quality. Consequently,investigating the behavior and environmental effects of Hg relevant to the melt of alpine glaciers represents significant scientific and social importance. The deposition and storage of Hg in alpine glacier areas were outlined and the removal characteristics and transformation of Hg during glacier melt process and transport of Hg in glacier-fed river were summarized. Based on this study,we suggested that glacier be one of the potential sources of Hg to the downstream areas. Moreover,it was worth concerning the fate and environmental effects of Hg in the ecosystem fed by the glacier runoff. Eventually,we proposed prospects of the process of Hg release during glacier melt and the hot issues of Hg transport in glacier runoff.