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Mercury, a very familiar name, is the silvery-white metallic element used in thermometers, but deadly to humans and other living things at certain levels. Methylmercury is a combination of inorganic mercury with organic matter dissolved in water. A warm, damp climate creates a perfect environment for this particular kind of element. As for the Everglades, most mercury arrives through ocean breezes and is deposited by downpours. "Swampy conditions provide a perfect habitat for sulfate-reducing bacteria, which readily absorb rainwater mercury—and turn it into its hazardous methylated form" (Stephenson 1). The Everglades has one of the highest ranked concentrations of mercury in the world; a combination of Florida's wetlands, climate, and farming methods are all contributors to the increased level of methylmercury within the swamplands.
The food chain is a major key in the unleashing of mercury. Plankton organisms eat bacteria with methylmercury and of course, then they are eaten (Stephenson 1). Although used in many items such as, fluorescent lights, thermometers, or even paint, Mercury becomes dangerous when in the atmosphere or soil. Throughout its travel to earth via the rain, Mercury transforms to its dangerous counterpart, methylmercury. With the over abundance of wetlands, the transformation is naturally aided (Pierce 2).
"Everything it could possibly need for its wicked business is right here, and in spades. Year round great climate, beaucoup friendly molecules, an energetic food chain that feeds everything from bacteria to panthers—it's made-to-order factory for creating a phenomenon called biomagnification" (Stephenson 1).
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Mercury has been recognized also as an air pollutant, helping Florida to attain higher pollution levels than many industrial states (Pierce 3). Consequently, the environment and all of its components become vulnerable to the poison. Through biomagnification, mercury in its methylated form increases in potency at each level of the food chain. Of course, many fish have been labeled too dangerous for consumption; and the population of Wading birds has decreased significantly since the 1950's. The editor of Research in Review at Florida State University, Frank Stephenson, agrees that the Everglades create an overwhelmingly perfect environment for mercury:
Whatever the case, with its inexhaustible supply of organic material, mostly in the form of peat- the decayed remnants of millions of acres of sawgrass- the Everglades represent an enormous reservoir of energy perpetuating mercury's natural fondness for building up in the flesh of fish and other watery wildlife (1).
Concentrations of methylmercury within the South Florida Everglades are among the highest in the world ("Research Trace Mercury" 1). A powerful toxin, known as sulfur, may be being unleashed into the soil of the Everglades. Such an enormous amount of sulfur has been used in agriculture; and the implicated costs to soak up the phosphorus from the fertilizers would be a minimum of one billion dollars. Farmers, for many decades, have utilized sulfur as a base of fertilizers which draw manganese, zinc, iron, and a number of other nutrients from depleted soil ("Research Trace Mercury" 2). Scientists' theory is that "diluted sulfur is fueling bacteria that actually do the conversion work" (2). Microbes are thought to use sulfur in the same way that human beings use oxygen. With this agriculture process, the Everglades develop a level of sulfur that is perfect for methylation. Although the high level of sulfur in the Everglades is highly recognized, there is no specific evidence of farmers being at fault for the great increase in methylmercury.
Without a doubt, Florida's high concentration of Mercury in the Everglades is dangerous and threatens life at every level; indeed, it actually becomes more toxic at each level of the food chain, endangering those mostly at the top of the great food pyramid. Permanently a moist, sunny, semi-tropical setting, Florida's swamplands create a one of a kind environment for mercury to transform into methylmercury, it's much more dangerous form. In addition to needing agriculture for life, it has been an ongoing process of adding elements (such as sulfur) into the soil to enrich it in order to maximize growth and production; therefore, whether proven or not, sulfur is a definite suspect and one of many culprits playing a role in the ever increasing methylmercury levels. Considering all possibilities, it no longer seems unreasonable or unrealistic to recognize the high level of mercury and its threats to life.
Works Cite
Pierce, Kevin. "Toxic Mercury at Home in the Florida Everglades" Florida Environment Radio Programs 13 Mar. 2000 http://www.Floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe00313.htm
"Researchers Trace Mercury Outbreak in Everglades to Farm Methods" Naples Daily News: Associated Press 23 Aug. 1999 http://www.naplesnews.com/today/Florida/d102911a.htm
Stephenson, Frank. "Natural Match: Mercury & The Everglades" Florida State University Research in Review 8 June 1998 http://www.Natural%20Match.20Mercury/Everglades.issue.htm
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