Mercury (Hg) Background Information : Mercury is an element and it is one common form of pollution across the world. Large amounts of mercury is released into the atmosphere from coal burning power plants. Mercury can travel great distances in the air and water and even arrive at places like the arctic (south pole). As a result, the cells and tissue of small arctic organisms like phytoplankton became contaminated or polluted with mercury. They also discovered that when zooplankton or other organisms consumed the phytoplankton, they absorbed the mercury into their cells and tissue. Simply, mercury is being passed up the food chain. Scientists also discovered that organisms are unable to quickly remove mercury , and therefore it collects their cells and tissues. The collection of a chemical or substance in the tissue of an organism is known as bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation leads to biomagnifacation. Biomagnifacation is a process where the the concentration of a chemical in an organism increases as you move up the food chain. This happens because organisms higher in the food chain or energy pyramid must consume more food, and therefore consume more pollutants like PCBs. Scientists have recently discovered that mercury levels are rising in the arctic, and organisms that live in the arctic have higher than normal concentrations of mercury in their bodies. While scientists are unsure how higher levels of mercury are affecting organisms in the arctic, it is known that in humans high levels of mercury damages the nervous system and interferes with the development of unborn offspring. Mercury Arctic Food Chain Contamination by PCBs

Lake Trout 4.83 Lake Trout 4.83 Mercury (Hg) Background Information: Mercury is an element and it is one common form of pollution across the world. Large

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Mercury (Hg)

Background Information: Mercury is an element and it is one common form of pollution across the world. Large amounts of mercury is released into the atmosphere from coal burning power plants. Mercury can travel great distances in the air and water and even arrive at places like the arctic (south pole). As a result, the cells and tissue of small arctic organisms like phytoplankton became contaminated or polluted with mercury. They also discovered that when zooplankton or other organisms consumed the phytoplankton, they absorbed the mercury into their cells and tissue. Simply, mercury is being passed up the food chain. Scientists also discovered that organisms are unable to quickly remove mercury , and therefore it collects their cells and tissues. The collection of a chemical or substance in the tissue of an organism is known as bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation leads to biomagnifacation. Biomagnifacation is a process where the the concentration of a chemical in an organism increases as you move up the food chain. This happens because organisms higher in the food chain or energy pyramid must consume more food, and therefore consume more pollutants like PCBs.

Scientists have recently discovered that mercury levels are rising in the arctic, and organisms that live in the arctic have higher than normal concentrations of mercury in their bodies. While scientists are unsure how higher levels of mercury are affecting organisms in the arctic, it is known that in humans high levels of mercury damages the nervous system and interferes with the development of unborn offspring.

Mercury

Arctic Food Chain Contamination by PCBs