Mercury levels are rising and not just on your thermometer

by Karin L. Nauber

karin@inhnews.com

This has been a warm summer. Well, that might be somewhat of an understatement.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Weather Talk site, “For only the third time in state history, June 1-15 brought a statewide mean temperature over 70°F.” In fact, the site reports that many areas had at least one day with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

You probably saw the mercury rising on your thermometer quite a lot early this summer.

You are even more likely to see temperatures swell into the high 80s to mid-90s this week as predicted by the Weather Channel 10-day forecast.

But today, we are not going to talk much more about the temperature. Although, the rising temperature is part of the problem.

The mercury being referred to in this article has to do with our lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water and specifically from certain fish that are showing up with toxic levels of mercury in them.

According to an article from the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the levels of toxic mercury found in fish is the result of climate change and overfishing.

“Climate change and overfishing are increasing levels of toxic mercury in cod and tuna, which can cause neurological disorders in children and babies whose mothers eat fish while pregnant, a study by Harvard scientists concluded.” . . .

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