Extent of Mercury Pollution More Widespread Than Previously Thought

Environmental Protection Magazine

Mercury pollution is making its way into nearly every habitat in the nation, exposing countless species of wildlife to potentially harmful levels of mercury, according to a report released on Sept. 19 by the National Wildlife Federation.

"From songbirds to alligators, turtles to bats, eagles to otters, mercury is accumulating in nearly every corner of the food chain," said Catherine Bowes, northeast program manager for the National Wildlife Federation and principal author of the report. "This report paints a compelling picture of mercury contamination in the United States, and many more species are at risk than we previously thought. Fish, long thought to be the key species affected by mercury, are just the tip of the iceberg."

The National Wildlife Federation report, Poisoning Wildlife: The Reality of Mercury Pollution, is a compilation of more than 65 published studies finding elevated levels of mercury in a wide range of wildlife species. The report highlights mercury levels in fish, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians living in freshwater, marine and forest habitats from across the country.

The accumulation of mercury in fish has been well-understood for years. However, scientists have recently discovered that mercury accumulates in forest soils, indicating that wildlife that live and feed outside aquatic habitats also are at risk of exposure to mercury.

Preventing Mercury Release from Facility Lighting

While the energy-saving fluorescent lighting in use at many facilities can lessen impact on the environment and the facility budget, when fluorescent bulbs burn out they need to be recycled to prevent release of their hazardous mercury content.

The Bulb Eater® lamp crusher makes it fast and cost-effective for large facilities, while EasyPak™ mail-in containers are a simple recycling method for small facilities. Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions