Red alarm level: mercury pollution in rivers increases dramatically!
Red alarm level: mercury pollution in rivers increases dramatically!
Amazonasgebiet, Brasilien - An alarming increase in mercury connections in flowing waters worldwide has recently been determined. These substances are strong nerve toxins, which endanger human health, especially through fish consumption. The global mercury entry in rivers has so far not been well documented, while earlier studies mostly focused on mercury concentrations in the atmosphere, floors and sea water. Now researchers have developed a model to quantify the pre-industrial mercury export from rivers into the oceans. As the Kleine Zeitung , the estimated mercury entry for the year was around 390 tons annually. This value is currently almost 1,000 tons per year.
The climbs of the mercury entry in South Asia, Southeast Asia and in North and South America are particularly pronounced. In the Amazon area, over 200 tons of mercury, especially through human activities such as small mining, are entered in the waters every year. These dramatic changes are directly related to deforestation, which reinforces the soil erosion and thus increases the mercury values.origin of the mercury from industrial activities
In Germany, coal -fired power plants emit over five tons of mercury annually. These emissions get through rain into already heavily loaded waters. According to the NABU exceed the limit values of the environmental quality standard (UQN) for mercury. Probe fish in rivers such as the Rhine, the Elbe and the Danube, which have been high for more than 15 years, are particularly affected.
The organic compounds of the mercury, especially methyl mercury, are particularly toxic and damage the nerve tissue. Pregnant and breastfeeding is therefore recommended to avoid certain fish species such as eel or pike. The NABU urgently demands stricter requirements for the limit values of coal -fired power emissions to reduce the negative effects on the environment and health.
health risks and international measures
mercury is known for damage the central nervous system and the immune and reproductive system. Particularly unborn children are at risk. Therefore, US authorities advise pregnant women to avoid certain fish species from loaded areas. At the international level, there are already several agreements on regulating mercury use, including the OSPAR Convention and the International Minamata Convention, which is expected to come into force in 2017. Studies and projects, such as that of the Öko-Instituts , explore the effects of mercury and possible reduction techniques.
The project, which is carried out under the direction of the Federal Environment Agency and the eco-institute, aims to develop a national mercury strategy for German industry. Even if there is inexpensive procedures to reduce the mercury emissions, the problem remains, since there are no permanent “mercury -silver cuts” that can remove the mercury from the environment forever.
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| Ort | Amazonasgebiet, Brasilien |
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