Biomagnification is the process of a chemical moving through a food chain, eventually reaching the topmost organisms. As the chemical moves through the food chain, it is accumulated into a larger and larger part of the organism's diet.
Mercury is a heavy element characterized by its metallic silver color and how it uniquely is in a liquid state in standard temperature and pressure conditions (0 °C and 14.5 psi, respectively). Mercury is most commonly used in thermometers to measure temperature because of its high coefficient of expansion. However, due to the toxicity of the chemical, mercury is rarely used for modern thermometers. Mercury is also used in electrical switches, dental fillings, and as a disinfectant. Most mercury that ends up in ecosystems comes from the air. Burning coal results in airborne Mercury, as does the mining of other metals. The disposal of products containing mercury can also result in mercury contamination.
The case study of the Great Lakes by the United States Environmental Protection Agency gives the example of phytoplankton as a starting place for biomaginification. While there may be only a small amount of a substance like mercury, phytoplankton bioaccumulate it at a much higher concentration. Zooplankton eat phytoplankton, and absorb this high concentration of mercury. Even more mercury accumulates in these organisms. The zooplankton are eaten by small fish, the small fish are eaten by large fish, the large fish are eaten by seagulls, and so on. As each predator eats its prey, mercury is accumulated at higher and higher concentrations, thus moving up through the food chain.
The study that I used suggested remediating contaminated sediments and reducing PCB loadings into the Great Lakes as a way to help reduce the effects and possibly stop the contamination of the lakes. Finding alternatives to mercury in various products could also reduce the amount of mercury that is released into the environment. Mercury is a very dangerous substance, and has no place within foreign ecosystems, and it is our job to find a way to remove it.
Sources:
The study that I used suggested remediating contaminated sediments and reducing PCB loadings into the Great Lakes as a way to help reduce the effects and possibly stop the contamination of the lakes. Finding alternatives to mercury in various products could also reduce the amount of mercury that is released into the environment. Mercury is a very dangerous substance, and has no place within foreign ecosystems, and it is our job to find a way to remove it.
Sources:
"Biomagnification." Definition Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
<http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/biomagnification.html>.
"Great Lakes Monitoring." Great Lakes Monitoring. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
<http://www3.epa.gov/grtlakes/glindicators/fishtoxics/topfishb.html>.
"Mercury." Mercury. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
<http://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/eps2/wisc/hg.html>.
"What Is Innovation and Where Does It Come From?" Portfolio Management (2012): n. pag. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
