A recent study revealed that atmospheric levels of mercury have decreased almost 70 percent in the last 20 years, thanks to domestic and global environmental regulations limiting mercury and its emissions.
A recent study revealed that atmospheric levels of mercury have decreased almost 70 percent in the last 20 years, thanks to domestic and global environmental regulations limiting mercury and its emissions.
This is good news, because mercury is highly toxic to humans and animals. Globally, about 5,000 to 8,000 metric tons are emitted each year, of which 1/3 comes from natural processes like volcanic eruptions and undersea vents. The rest comes from industrial pollution such as the burning of fossil fuels. In the U.S., power plants that burn coal and oil emit 44 percent of all mercury emissions.
But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now proposing changes to the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS), which would weaken current emissions limits for mercury from U.S. fossil fuel power plants by 70 percent.
Read more at: Columbia Climate School
Liquid mercury. (Photo Credit: Tavo Roman)
