Alaskas permafrost is melting and revealing high levels of mercury that could threaten Alaska Native peoples.
Researchers already knew that the Arctic permafrost was releasing some mercury, but scientists werent sure how much.
Mercury is a naturally occurring substance, but mercury pollution is often human-caused.
Melting permafrost in Alaska is releasing dangerous levels of mercury.Image: Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock
When ingested, the silvery metal can wreak havoc on the neurological system.
It has that sense of a bomb thats going to go off, he added.
Whether thats actually occurring remains unclear, and underscores the need for more data.
Diminishing salmon runs arealready a problem in the Yukon, in part due to warmer waters from climate change.
Peter says her people havent seen salmon for several years.
When we do fish, the last thing we want to be worried about is high mercury levels.
Mercury poisoning among Indigenous peoples is already a global problem.
Unfortunately, Alaska is no exception.
Mercury pollution doesnt only cause health problems or risk discouraging Indigenous fishing practices.
Its a threat to the cultural identity of Native peoples, not just their health and physical existence.
Where Im from in Beaver, theres no grocery stores.
We build our own cabins.
We haul our own water.
We hunt our own food, Peter said.
Correction: This story originally misidentified how mercury forms.
This article originally appeared inGrist.
Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.
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