A method for the reduction and prevention of mercury emissions into the environment from combusted fossil fuels or other off-gases with the use of peracetic acid is disclosed. The peracetic acid is used for the capture of mercury from the resulting flue gases using a flue gas desulfurization system or scrubber. The method uses peracetic acid in conjunction with a scrubber to capture mercury and lower its emission and/or re-emission with stack gases. The method allows the use of coal as a cleaner and environmentally friendlier fuel source as well as capturing mercury from other processing systems.