Highly toxic.

Released into the atmosphere from coal.

In water it may be consumed by fish.

It has also recently been found to affect birds which feed on  

Claire Varian-Ramos is investigating:

• The effects on birds’  or mental processes e.g. memory

• The effects on bird song (usually learned from a bird’s )

Findings:

• Songs learned by birds exposed to mercury are less 

  

• This may have a negative effect on birds’ 

  

Lab-based studies:

• Allow more  for the experimenter

Migrating birds such as  containing mercury may be eaten by humans

Mercury also causes problems in learning 

Mercury in a mother’s body from   may affect the unborn child

New regulations for mercury emissions will affect everyone’s energy