Massive tons of mercury have been trapped in frozen ground for thousands of years and are now being released steadily into Alaska’s Yukon River because of climate change. Melting permafrost is a new concern for scientists because mercury release poses more ecological and health risks than carbon dioxide emissions.
The Research highlighted that Arctic permafrost contains about 1,656,000 metric tons of mercury. This is twice the amount in Earth’s soils, oceans, and the atmosphere. Scientists warn that trapped mercury in ice threatens the planet’s environment for a long time.
Plants absorb mercury in the Arctic, and becomes part of the soil when plants die and decay. The mercury-laden soil, over thousands of years, freezes into permafrost wherever mercury concentrations build up.
A researcher said there could be a giant mercury bomb in the Arctic that could explode anytime soon. Another pointed out that the river can mobilize large amounts of sediment containing mercury.
Researchers, through remote sensing data from satellites, have been monitoring how fast the Yukon River is changing its course. According to the study, the river changing direction of flow affects how much mercury-laden sediments are eroded from riverbanks, and deposited along sandbars.
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Mercury Threatens People And Environment
Researchers said toxic metals threaten the environment and health of about five million people living in the Arctic. However, there’s minimal risk of contamination through drinking water.
Experts believe long-term effects could be devastating for communities largely dependent on hunting and fishing. This is because the Earth’s natural atmospheric circulation transfers pollutants to higher latitudes, thus, mercury accumulation in the Arctic.
Moreover, a 2023 study established that the region is melting fast than previously predicted – days are getting longer, and both poles are melting leading to sea level rise.
