Mercury Levels in Seals Rising - Reverse the Trend
- by: Care2
- recipient: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
Global warming is changing the ecology of the Arctic Ocean - and the effects on the inhabitants of the Arctic are just starting to come to light. A just-released research report links vanishing sea ice to a shocking rise in mercury levels in ringed seals.
Cod are a very mercury-contaminated species - and a favorite of ringed seals during the ice-free season. Because the ice-free season is becoming longer and longer due to global warming, researchers say, the feeding season for ringed seals is also becoming longer - and as a consequence, the seals are taking in too much mercury.
The mercury contamination will only get worse for the Arctic ringed seal unless we start to seriously address global warming! More research is needed to see just how the transfer of mercury in the food web is being affected by global warming. Urge Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to ensure his department puts resources behind investigating the impact of global warming on seals and other marine life.
Dear Secretary Salazar,
I am writing today after reading about recent research in the journal Environment, Science and Technology that linked vanishing sea ice in the Arctic to a shocking rise in mercury levels in ringed seals. Please put your department's resources behind investigating the impact of global warming on seals and other marine life.
Cod are a very mercury-contaminated species of fish - and a favorite of ringed seals during the ice-free season. Because the ice-free season has been becoming longer and longer due to global warming, researchers say, the feeding season for ringed seals has become longer - and as a consequence, the seals are taking in too much mercury.
The mercury contamination will only get worse for the Arctic ringed seal unless we start addressing global warming immediately! More research is needed to see just how the transfer of mercury in the food web is being affected by global warming.
[Your comment here]
Thank you for speaking out for the ringed seal and other marine life.
