Scientists at the University of Southern California have revealed that the melting of permafrost in the Arctic leads to dangerous emissions of mercury, a toxic metal that threatens the health of local residents and ecosystems.
A study conducted in the Yukon River area in Alaska showed that mercury levels there reach 86 kilograms per square kilometer, which is almost twice the previously estimated values.
Mercury can accumulate in fish and seafood, which makes it especially dangerous for people whose lives depend on fishing, osnmedia.ru notes.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
