Air pollution contributing to high mercury, metal levels in Kejimkujik lakes | CBC News
Globally, activities such as burning fossil fuels, gold
mining and metal and cement production account for the bulk of
human-caused atmospheric mercury emissions.
mining and metal and cement production account for the bulk of
human-caused atmospheric mercury emissions.
Once mercury is
released into the air, it can circulate in the atmosphere for a year.
When it is eventually deposited on land or water, it can be transformed
by bacteria into methylmercury, which is toxic to humans and wildlife and bioaccumulates in the food chain.