California seals change in bulk because of seawater pollution of mercury

For the first time in the past 20 years, the scientific community has been able to confirm: Mercury is the cause of widespread seawater pollution, leading to the situation of hundreds of fur seals in bulk despite not yet. to breeding season.

Seals change early because of seawater pollution

According to a recent study published by the Russian Academy of Sciences, researchers have discovered methylmercury - a particularly toxic form of mercury - in water samples near the coast of Ano Nuevo Park. , California, USA. This amount of mercury is thought to stem from the feathers of elephant seals that are gathering here during the breeding season. If the results of this study are confirmed, it can be concluded that the amount of mercury in the fur seals originates from the points of human industrial activity.

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In the human body, mercury can cause nervous system disorders, kidney damage and even death. Mercury molecules in the air are able to condense and penetrate into the water source, or be dumped directly from industrial areas into clean water sources such as the sea and lakes . When polluted water reaches the ocean , the bacteria in the seawater will transform mercury into a 'toxic' compound with the nervous system . It is worrisome that this toxin can be easily absorbed by animals that live in seawater sources when they ingest those bacteria.

California seals are mass-molting due to mercury pollution.

As such, sequentially following the food chain in the marine ecosystem, toxic mercury is accumulated in an increasing number. This leads to a risk - even with the most modern measures - it is difficult to control mercury levels overnight. Even more dangerous, the amount of toxic mercury can completely penetrate into the human body through seafood consumed up to hundreds of tons every day.

Seals change hair due to alarming mercury contamination in seawater.

In a recent experiment, the researchers analyzed water samples taken from the coast near Ano Nuevo - a park dedicated to the elephant seal breeding season. From the results, scientists found that during the seal breeding season, the level of mercury in the seawater was 17 times higher. Not stopping there, the amount of mercury in the body of the seal can be inherited to many generations of this species. Cossaboon is concerned about the risk of not being able to completely prevent seawater pollution from mercury because, in fact, mercury can easily cross the placental barrier to 'settle' in the baby seal body. Although not yet born. This is further demonstrated when scientists conduct experiments and get alarming results: Up to 90% of baby seals are born that have very high levels of mercury in hair and blood.

In order to solve this problem, scientists are looking for a way to thoroughly handle the effects of human-caused ecosystem pollution.Mercury pollution in water sources will soon reach humanity through an intermediate pathway of fish and seafood species living in polluted water. Catching and consuming these contaminated organisms will cause long-term harm to human health. Cossaboon concluded: 'People should be observant enough to realize how mercury pollution has affected sensitive animals like seals. Looking at that fact, we need to raise awareness in actively reducing emissions'.