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Mercury in California Rainwater Traced to Industrial Emissions in Asia

Researchers in Santa Cruz, CA have found that industrial emissions in Asia are a major source of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast. Their findings are reported in a paper published online today by the Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres. The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury pollution is a significant problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering the state’s waters from various sources.