Mercury is rising in the arctic, but not for the reasons one might assume. Levels of mercury in arctic marine mammals have jumped ten fold in the last 100 years, despite the stabilization of global mercury emission. Scientists from the Canadian research ship the Amundsen, a $40 million dollar project, are trying to find out why. Funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, scientists and universities across Canada collaborate to investigate the effects of climate change on Canada’s Arctic. These researchers believe that the elevated mercury levels are linked to the melting of polar ice, which releases “frozen” mercury deposits. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that causes neurodevelopment delays , damaging the central nervous system. It poses a danger not only to the sensitive Arctic eco-system, but also to Canadians who eat a traditional northern diet, which includes marine mammals. Health Canada has already detected mercury levels in the population of Nunavik to be potentially dangerous.
Source: PLoS Biology
