“Mercury can leak out and become a threat to marine life”

Mercury that has been held in nature for a long time may be released as the climate warms, according to researchers cited by the Barents Observer. Marine scientist Michael Bank, quoted on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, said this could affect marine life, seafood and human health. He added that climate change may also weaken the effect of steps taken internationally to limit mercury pollution.

The Arctic is heating up at four times the pace seen elsewhere on the planet, the Barents Observer reported. Permafrost in areas such as Siberia is thawing. Glaciers on Svalbard are getting smaller. These changes could free methylmercury, which is among the most toxic forms of the metal.

Norwegian researchers point out that heavy exposure to mercury can harm brain function and development, especially among young people. For that reason, the country's authorities check food to keep mercury levels within safe limits. Mercury is a natural part of the ecosystem, but human activity such as burning fossil fuels also emits it. Newer regulations have lowered man-made pollution since the early 2000s. Methylmercury stored by nature for centuries and now entering the oceans is, however, a threat to living organisms, the Barents Observer said.

Bank describes methylmercury as a strong neurotoxin for animals and for people. It can reach human meals after being taken up by algae, plants, fish and other wildlife. In a scientific paper from 2023, he notes that Arctic cod in the Barents Sea carries considerable ecological and economic weight for Norway. For that reason, tracking mercury in water and seafood is increasingly necessary. Bank said methods are needed to assess the effects of mercury pollution while the climate changes quickly. He said satellites and drones can be used to detect possible sources of the pollution.