Environmental Pollution And Its Effects on Health and Nature

Mercury is r anked as one of   the most toxic elements or substances   in the world, coming just behind   arsenic and   lead   as third.   This environmental pollutant  continues to be dumped into our waterways   and soil,   is being   spilled into our atmosphere, and co ntinually contaminates   our food and water . Although mercury pollution was initially minimal, h uman activities have nearly tripled the amount of mercury in the   environment   and the atmospheric burden is increasing 1.5 percent per ye a r . Environmental mercury, either through soil or water pollution,   can   enter the food chain through plant and livestock. Once in the food chain mercury can   bioaccumulate causing   harmful   effects to human health .