How Mercury Gets Into Fish

Mercury pollution occurs when factories burn coal or mining operations release run-off into lakes and rivers, where microorganisms convert it to methylmercury that is taken up by plants and small fish; as these fish become consumed by larger ones, more methylmercury accumulates throughout their food chains and becomes concentrated further up. Learn about how mercury…

How Mercury Gets Into Water

Mercury released into the air from coal-fired power plants, burning household waste or mining ore deposits can reach soil and water resources where bacterial processes may transform it into organic mercury-methylmercury forms. Methylmercury travels up the food chain, poisoning fish and wildlife that humans then ingest as well as finding its way into our drinking…