Most of the mercury emitted into the atmosphere rains down on the world's oceans, and the rest ends up on land. But its is a volatile element, and much of it evaporates and returns to the air after being deposited on land and into the ocean. In fact, a majority of the mercury (60 percent) that rains out from the air has been re-emitted from soil or water, returning like an undead pollutant that cannot be snuffed out.
The primary source of mercury emissions is small-scale (or "artisanal") gold mining, for example in Southeast Asia and South America, according to the study; a close second is emissions of mercury from burning coal. Together, the two account for about two-thirds of current mercury pollution, Amos said.
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