Where is mercury found?
Although mercury is a naturally occurring element, more than two-thirds of the mercury in the atmosphere comes from human-made products and energy production activities. Mercury is released into the atmosphere through a variety of means such as evaporation from water and land, but primarily through coal-fired utility and incinerator emissions. Mercury gets into the soil through the natural breakdown of mercury-containing rocks, disposal of mercury in landfills, and atmospheric deposition. It enters the watershed through runoff, atmospheric deposition, and when mercury products are poured down the drain. Once in the water cycle, mercury can convert to methyl mercury. Methyl mercury can accumulate in the tissues of fish and other organisms inhabiting mercury contaminated bodies of water, and may be carried up the food chain.
