An article by our partner, the Journal de l’Environnement.
Mercury contamination is reaching alarming levels, according to a report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on 19 September.
Although mercury is one of the ten most dangerous chemicals in the world, excessive concentrations are still observed in 46,000 out of 111,000 European surface water bodies.
These concentrations mainly come from emissions generated by the combustion of coal, lignite and wood and, to a lesser extent, gold mining and certain industrial processes.
That is why it can be found in the air, the water, the soil and in animals.
In the atmosphere, its current concentrations are 500% higher than natural levels and in oceans they are 200% higher.
When consumed by animals, it contaminates the entire food chain.
The report also revealed that approximately 50% of anthropogenic mercury observed in Europe comes from beyond its borders.
Limitations of the Minamata Convention The bad news is that even urgent major action would not be able to reduce the concentrations down to the levels observed before the industrial age.
This is a pollution that is expected to further increase as a result of global warming.