Predicting recovery of mercury-contaminated fish populations

Reducing mercury pollution entering lakes lowers how much harmful mercury is found in freshwater fish destined for consumers' plates. This is according to a new paper . During the study, conducted over 15 years, scientists intentionally added a traceable form of mercury to an experimental lake and its watershed. The interdisciplinary research team, including Western University's Brian Branfireun , discovered that the new mercury they added quickly built up in fish populations, and then declined almost as quickly once they stopped additions. Notably, the fish populations were able to recover from mercury much quicker than previously understood, which suggests that curbing mercury pollution through policy initiatives now will have a rapid and tangible benefit on the quality of fish we consume. The findings provide indisputable, science-based support for necessary regulations on mercury emissions that have been weakened in recent years, especially in the United States. They also support the efficacy of existing and new policies around the globe that seek to curb how much mercury ends up in the environment.