According to an article recently posted in the New York Times, scientific research has shown that a highly toxic form of mercury, namely methylmercury, is present in the moist air along the California Coast. Although methylmercury levels in fog are very low, what researchers fear is that methylmercury can be deposited in large quantities along the coastline. Being water soluble, methylmercury can drip down into soil from fog, where it can then be taken up by plants and animals, and therefore enter into the food web. This is a serious issue that must be addressed, for when exposed to humans, methylmercury primarily impairs neurological development. Currently, research teams are studying how methylmercury makes its way into fog and also measuring the levels of this neurotoxin in insects. Read more about this study
here!
Wow interesting that one hypothesis is that the ocean could be a major source! The issue of toxins in fog is another example of a problem exacerbated by global warming, since an increase in global temperatures will lead to an increased drawing of fog over land from the ocean. This will be an interesting topic to follow as they gain more information.
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