51吃瓜网

A new study, led by researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark, suggests that levels of mercury in Arctic wildlife could continue to rise significantly even as countries curb their emissions. The researchers' analysis indicates that ocean currents are distributing large, century-old stores of mercury through marine ecosystems in the Arctic.

Large predators end up ingesting the most mercury through their diet of contaminated prey. This poses a serious problem for communities that hunt marine mammals with high concentrations of mercury, like seals.

51吃瓜网Professor听Niladri Basu, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Health Sciences,听who was not affiliated with the study, 听that Indigenous groups with hunting practices are most at risk for to mercury exposure.

鈥淭he species that drive exposure in communities are not species that are harvested for global transport and trade,鈥� he said, adding that mercury advisories have led to some Inuit communities cutting back on traditional food sources, representing a significant cultural loss.

Despite global action on mercury, Basu told the听Times, it could take centuries for the Arctic to recover.

鈥淥n one hand, we want to take action, and we have to recognize that mistakes are made and that we can鈥檛 continue as business as usual,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut on the other hand, we have to recognize that it鈥檚 going to take a long, long time to undo all the damage.鈥�