mercury pollution
Toxic metal spread
Mercury pollution is the contamination of air, water, or soil by mercury, a toxic heavy metal.
Sources include coal-fired power plants, gold mining, and industrial processes.
Mercury accumulates in fish and shellfish, posing health risks to humans and wildlife who consume them: Mercury pollution in the Great Lakes has led to fish consumption advisories.
The element persists in ecosystems, biomagnifying up the food chain.
- Minamata diseaseNeurological mercury poisoning condition
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
- biomagnificationToxins accumulating through food chains
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
tuna fish · spill · coal combustion · power plant · neurotoxicity · kidney damage · emission controls · Slovenia · industrial emissions · poison · international cooperation · mad hatter · developmental disorders · birth defects · waste incineration · broken thermometer · heavy metal · dental fillings
mercury pollutionpristine environment
Unspoiled natural area
clean water · clean air · ecological health · environmental restoration · natural purity
mercury pollutionlead pollution
Toxic heavy metal contamination
plastic pollution · oil spills · radioactive contamination · air pollution
mercury pollutionenvironmental restoration
Repairing degraded natural systems
decontamination · bioremediation · pollution control · environmental protection · water purification
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