Mercury in the global ocean: three times more mercury in upper ocean since the Industrial Revolution
Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 14:01
in Earth & Climate
Mercury is a naturally occurring element as well as a by-product of such distinctly human enterprises as burning coal and making cement. Estimates of 'bioavailable' mercury -- forms of the element that can be taken up by animals and humans -- play an important role in everything from drafting an international treaty designed to protect humans and the environment from mercury emissions, to establishing public policies behind warnings about seafood consumption.