Melting permafrost releasing toxic mercury into the Arctic, scientists say

Melting Arctic permafrost is releasing toxic mercury into the Yukon River, posing significant risks to the food chain and Arctic communities, ABC News reports. The mercury, likely sequestered for millennia, is now being eroded from riverbanks and carried downstream, potentially impacting ecosystems and human health.

• Researchers at the University of Southern California found that as the Yukon River changes course, it mobilizes and redistributes mercury-laden sediments, which could lead to widespread contamination. Although the risk of mercury poisoning through drinking water is minimal, the primary concern is the accumulation of mercury in the food chain.
• The long-term environmental and health impacts could be severe —  especially for communities reliant on hunting and fishing — because mercury levels in the ecosystem are expected to rise over time. Prolonged exposure to increasing mercury levels could lead to devastating consequences for both the environment and human health in these regions.
• The Arctic is at the forefront of climate change, with the rapid melting of permafrost and ice sheets contributing to rising sea levels and longer days. Studies suggest that the Greenland ice sheet — which was once ice-free — is less stable than previously thought, and its melting could expose around 400 million people worldwide to flooding risks.