According to him, after they are done with their search for gold, they discharge mercury waste into the lake (Victoria) causing biological processes that transform the chemical substance into methylmercury, a highly toxic and bioaccumulative form.
It is said that fish can absorb methylmercury from their food and directly from water as it passes through their gills—the respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extract dissolved oxygen from water, afterward excreting carbon dioxide.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) fact sheet, mercury and all of its compounds are toxic, and therefore exposure to excessive levels can permanently damage or fatally injure the brain and kidneys.
It can also be absorbed through the skin and cause allergic reactions while ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds can cause severe renal and gastrointestinal damage.
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