Scientists warn of a giant mercury bomb: millions of people are at risk

Melting permafrost in the Arctic could have catastrophic consequences for the entire world. The frozen soil contains huge amounts of toxic mercury, which can be released into rivers and oceans when it melts.

According to a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, a real "mercury bomb" may be hidden in the Arctic. Melting permafrost due to global warming is releasing huge amounts of mercury that has been accumulating there for thousands of years, Newsweek writes.

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This toxic metal can enter the food chain and cause irreparable damage to human health and ecosystems.

Arctic residents, who traditionally consume a lot of fish and game, are particularly vulnerable. Mercury accumulating in the body can lead to serious diseases of the nervous system, kidneys and other organs.

Scientists say the situation is worsening due to the rapid melting of permafrost caused by climate change. The Arctic is heating up several times faster than other regions of the planet.

Researchers conducted a large-scale study in the Yukon River basin in Alaska and found that rivers already carry significant amounts of mercury that is washed out of the melting permafrost. This indicates that the process has already begun and may intensify significantly in the coming decades.

Earlier, we told you that scientists refuted the theory of the origin of life on Earth.

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