https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/melting-arctic-permafrost-toxic-mercury-environment/

Researchers have discovered that the permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere (specifically in Alaska) stores massive amounts of natural mercury. This permafrost is melting as a result of rising air temperatures due to climate change. The high temps are continuing to rise as more pollution from human activity is released into the air, and the ice continues to thaw.

This is a big problem. Not only is Global Warming an issue in itself but, studies have found that the soil in these areas hold nearly twice as much the amount of mercury than in all other soils, the ocean, and atmosphere combined. When it thaws, this massive amount of mercury will be released. The mercury bound up here may be 10 times greater than all the mercury humans have put into the atmosphere from pollution of the last 30 years. (National Geographic) As this happens far more of the pollutant will be allowed to build up in the atmosphere.

This is a serious problem because mercury is a toxic heavy metal that is very dangerous to the health of humans. Not only can it poison us, but it can build up in the water and affect the fish and other animals in the environment causing serious health issues. Mercury can have harmful neurological and reproductive effects on animals, leading to a shift in the health of the environment and our eating habits. As the mercury collects in the water, it will lead to the terrestrial food chain being affected and will eventually work its way up the food chain. Humans are at the top of this food chain. This will affect our health and ecosystems worldwide. The effects of this mercury take over will spread, for the mercury being released into the atmosphere will be spread globally.

Even though this is a scary outcome of the Earth’s rising temperatures, they are looking into a solution; or at least a temporary hold on this outbreak.

In certain regions they are researching putting certain animals back in these areas to walk over the fluffy snow. These climate adapted horses, ox, and bison will push down the fluffier snow to compact it down thinning it and making it dense. This lowers the permafrost temperature and allows a deeper freezing which will lower the temp and hold off on melting. They say that the fluffy snow act as an insulator to the ground and keeps it from getting cold.

This is just another example of an issue that is a result of Climate change that is a result of humans abusing the earth and being careless of the toxins they release. Hopefully we can be to restore the damage we have created before the irreversible results like mercury poisoning begin.

This article was a great source, I feel like it was intended to inform the public of the things that are happening around us as a result of our actions. However, biases could be involved by making people feel as though things are worse (or better) than they are in order to put certain ideas in to the public’s mind. Regardless, it is a good article that explains a recent event like so many others, that we need to be aware of to keep our actions and planet in check.