PARIS: Researchers have long been looking for a reason as to why there were seasonal elevated levels of mercury in coastal water near elephant seal rookery at Año Nuevo State Reserve and it seems that moulting elephant seals are to blame.
University of California, Santa Cruz, set out to find a reason for unexplained increase in mercury levels in coastal water. There was no obvious reason behind this increase, but they did have a clue that the increase was seasonal.
Mercury is a toxin that hampers marine life when the levels increase. It has long been known that industrial waste brings mercury to marine environments and marine animals ingest it along with food. Methyl mercury is a more toxic form of the element and is readily absorbed by marine animals.
Over the course of time more and more of this toxic compound builds up inside bodies of marine animals and when they are eaten by their predators, the mercury is transferred up the food chain.
As the mercury moves up the food chain its levels get more and more concentrated, researchers reveal in the study. The levels increase to such an extent that mercury concentrations in top predators can be 1 million to 10 million times higher than the levels found in seawater.
Tesla driverless system to use updated radar technology
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