Antarctica is Becoming a Dangerous Source of Mercury

Antarctica is gradually transforming from a "storage facility" for mercury into a source of environmental contamination. During the industrialization period, the release of mercury from the glaciers of the Antarctic Peninsula has increased by approximately 5.5 times, while the rate of mercury accumulation in marine sediments has risen by 160% compared to the pre-industrial era.

This was reported by Levon Azizyan, director of the Hydro-Meteorological and Monitoring Center of Armenia, on his social media page. As glaciers melt, mercury that has been "trapped" in ice and soil for decades is re-emerging into the environment via meltwater.

According to research, about 56% of the mercury found in bottom sediments has an atmospheric origin, while the remaining portion is linked to the melting of glaciers and erosion processes. At the same time, the expansion of ice-free ocean surface has increased the exchange of mercury between the atmosphere and the ocean by about 350%. This is concerning, as mercury can infiltrate the food chains of the Southern Ocean, accumulate in marine organisms, and spread throughout the entire ecosystem.