Poisoned.
The ice fields of the north (top) carry surprisingly high concentrations of mercury in their surface crystals (bottom).
Credit: University of Michigan
Posted on 02/26/2008 1:38:13 AM PST by neverdem
Poisoned.
The ice fields of the north (top) carry surprisingly high concentrations of mercury in their surface crystals (bottom).
Credit: University of Michigan
By Phil Berardelli
ScienceNOW Daily News
25 February 2008
The shimmering ice crystals spread across the Arctic landscape may look beautiful, but new research reveals that they carry an ugly secret: They contain surprisingly high concentrations of mercury, even when mercury is almost totally absent in the atmosphere. The researchers who made the discovery hope their findings will encourage stricter standards on mercury emissions that drift north.
The form of mercury that emanates from smokestacks of incinerators and power plants is relatively benign in the air. But after falling to the ground, it is converted by bacteria into methylmercury, a highly toxic compound that tends to work its way up the food chain. Few people were worried that this might be a problem in the Arctic, because sunlight was expected to break down mercury particles trapped in surface ice. Recent research had shown, however, that the deadly metal was lingering in Arctic ice, leaving scientists puzzled about where it was coming from or how it was accumulating.
To answer this, a group of U. S. scientists took surface samples from nearly 300 sites around Point Barrow, Alaska, and from kites they flew above gaps in the Arctic sea ice off the Alaskan coast. What they found alarmed them: In some places, mercury concentrations exceeded levels recorded near coal-burning plants. And the amounts evaporating from the seawater exceeded what had been recorded as falling from precipitation by as much as a factor of 10.
In the 1 March issue of Environmental Science & Technology, the team concludes that most of the methylmercury in Arctic ice comes from water vapor that’s evaporating from the ocean through openings in the sea ice, not from precipitation. They know this, geologist and co-author Joel Blum of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, said in an e-mail, because they also condensed out mercury from vapors collected from open ocean waters. As far as the ultimate sources of the mercury, Blum says they remain unknown. Despite that mystery, says Blum, "The only significant solution would be to reduce global mercury emissions."
It's surprising that the researchers have found such high concentrations from seawater evaporation, says retired environmental chemist Steve Lindberg, formerly with Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The problem, he says, is that "we still don't know the exact chemistry that generates the mercury” that gets deposited by the seawater. It will be important, says Lindberg, to collect additional data and generate models that try to answer these questions.
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How about eliminating all 3rd world camp fire cooking people off the face of the earth. This would take care of at least half the muslims and others that bleed the USA dry.
It is a pity they won't just declare environmentalism as a religion so we could claim some first Amendment protection against it being codified in law...
“However, by far, most mercury in the atmosphere is human-caused..”
Sir that is patently absurd. The output from one vulcano (pinatubo, St Helens, etc) can exceed all human sources of mercury emissions for decades.
Good grief did you invent that sitting around the breakfast table or are you smoking the algore reefer.
Lurking’
In some places in the western US they are trying to reduce radon in drinking water, not because it is harmful to drink, but people breathe it in when they shower and it's dangerous to the lungs. The radon limits are based on the exposure of a person taking a 20-mintue shower every day (or something like that). Unfortunately the areas where radon is a concern in drinking water also have have high levels in the air they breathe everyday. Many cities in the west were required to put in expensive water treatment facilities to remove radon, but they still get more exposure just walking down the street than they ever got in their showers.
Of course, radon is a gas that is created naturally by uranium and other radioactive elements in the ground. Radon dissolves easily in groundwater but it evaporates out of the water after it comes out of your tap.
Thanks for the correction. Apparently many scientists say that human-caused and natural sources are about equal, so I was wrong to say "by far." I must have been confused with another element, like cadmium, that is mostly generated by man. (Feel free to correct me on that, too.)
The output from one vulcano (pinatubo, St Helens, etc) can exceed all human sources of mercury emissions for decades.
Where where have you seen this statement?
Mercury, is emitted adsorbed onto the surface of soot and would come down as rain as the soot washes out of the stratosphere.
It is a type of chauvinism and arrogance to think that humans can significantly effect weather on a global scale rivaling what nature already does.
Regards,
Lurking’
This is lab rat tyranny, political lab rats gone wild. Scientific equipment has become so amazing that it’s possible to detect the slight slowing of Earth’s rotation if someone fills their swimming pool. Ban all swimming pools! Ban all things of envy that aren’t affordable on a researchers salary! Raise taxes, destroy capitalism!
Daring to Think Differently About Schizophrenia
Study casts doubt on anti-depressants I couldn't link this story dirently. They wanted folks who were registered. Bugmenot.com didn't work, but Drudge's link worked. Go figure.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
maybe we should consider shutting down the environment since it seems to be the cause of all this worry. There fixed it.
I think you’re so close you may have won something.
:-)
That for the wise enlightenment and healthy morning chuckle.
Way up where the huskies go......
How is Blum assuming that open sea water, evaporating into a vapor into the lower humidity Arctic air, is carrying/transporting/releasing mercury compounds?
Desalinization plants work ONLY because water vapor CAN’T carry salts and chemicals in the (very concentrated!) source water into the vapor that’s in the air above the salt water.
Isn’t mercury an element found naturally in the environment? Maybe it’s more common than originally thought.
Compact fluorescent bulbs are not going to help, since they contain mercury. Doesn’t that require mining of mercury? Pulling it out of the earth instead of leaving it undisturbed?
Good thing it is the Arctic. Fairbanks is in the sub-Arctic so we’re safe.
In the 1 March issue of Environmental Science & Technology, the team concludes that most of the methylmercury in Arctic ice comes from water vapor that’s evaporating from the ocean through openings in the sea ice, not from precipitation. They know this, geologist and co-author Joel Blum of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, said in an e-mail, because they also condensed out mercury from vapors collected from open ocean waters. As far as the ultimate sources of the mercury, Blum says they remain unknown.Thanks nd. I think the mercury comes from thermometers of the Franklin expedition. /rimshot
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