Shocking increase in mercury: rivers threaten oceans and health!

Shocking increase in mercury: rivers threaten oceans and health!

The alarm bells are ringing: mercury pollution in the world's oceans has reached alarming levels. According to a report by Bietigheim newspaper The amount of mercury entering the oceans via rivers has increased sharply. Regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Americas are particularly affected. The Amazon, a hotspot for mercury emissions, reaches over 200 tons annually, three quarters of which come from human activities, particularly small-scale mining.

The current developments are alarming. In addition to the already critical situation in the Amazon region, rivers in Siberia, such as the Ob and Yenisei, also transport significant amounts of mercury into the sea. Scientists, including Isabel Smith, are also reporting rising mercury concentrations in North America's Yukon and Koyukuk rivers. This increase is mainly caused by melting permafrost and increased soil erosion.

Causes and consequences of mercury pollution

The effects of mercury are devastating. As one of the most dangerous toxins, it damages the immune and reproductive systems as well as the central nervous system. Unborn children in particular are extremely sensitive to the toxic heavy metal. This also has an impact on nutrition in the affected regions: A study by WWF Brazil shows that mercury contamination in edible fish in the Amazon often exceeds the World Health Organization's limits. Around a third of the fish samples tested are affected, which has fatal consequences for the local communities, which mainly rely on fishermen for their livelihood.

Gold mining plays a crucial role in this problem. According to the WWF, gold mining leads to massive deforestation and biodiversity loss, using highly toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. These poisons enter the air, soil and water and endanger the health of local people. The infrastructure built for gold mining, such as roads and hydroelectric power plants, often leads to illegal settlement and increases other environmental degradation such as logging and poaching.

Overall, alongside the rise in mercury levels, there is also a glimmer of hope. Compared to 1850, mercury inputs into the Mediterranean have fallen. This decline is largely due to measures such as the construction of dams, such as the Aswan Dam in Egypt, which reduce the flow of mercury into these waters.

The dangers of mercury are global and require urgent action to protect both human health and the fragile environment of affected regions. Protecting biodiversity and regulating gold mining are essential to curb the catastrophic consequences of toxic emissions.