However, these beautiful natural landscapes also mean that the US is highly susceptible to the adverse side effects of climate change. And scientists have recently found yet another concerning result of the changing climate in the US: One important river has been infected with mercury, and they say millions of lives are at stake if the “bomb” goes off.

Their research, which used a new and improved method for accurately measuring mercury levels, is deeply concerning as it shows not only an overwhelming amount of mercury right now but also the potential for far more in the near future.

Mercury is a naturally occurring chemical element found in the Earth’s crust. However, the inhalation of mercury can be extremely harmful to humans, affecting the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, lungs, and kidneys.

Mercury poisoning typically happens over extended periods of time. However, as the amount of mercury in our water and air increases, the adverse side effects can and will be seen far more quickly.

The Earth’s natural atmospheric circulation funnels pollutants, including mercury, toward higher latitudes to ensure they don’t poison plants and animals all over the planet.

Then, the now mercury-filled soil is frozen into a permafrost to protect the rest of the world. Theoretically, it’s a fantastic system, but only if the ecosystem functions as it should.

With the excessive amount of mercury in the Arctic, many experts worry that the drastic melting of the miles upon miles of ice will release an unbelievable and exceptionally hazardous amount of mercury into the world’s water supply.

One belief suggests that mercury transforms into a reactive gaseous species, which then deposits locally. NOAA states that while this species has never been measured in the Arctic, confirming methylmercury (MeHg) at other Arctic sites is necessary.

“Over centuries, mercury has built up in the frozen ground, such that today, Arctic permafrost may hold more mercury than the atmosphere, the oceans, and every living organism combined.”

West explained that he and his colleagues believe “there could be this giant mercury bomb in the Arctic waiting to explode.”

While permafrost covers 25% of the Arctic, certain areas are at risk of the permafrost vanishing in the next few decades.

“Considering all of these factors should give us a more accurate estimate of the total mercury that could be released as permafrost melts over the next few decades,” Smith says.

To understand the threat, scientists are working to comprehend how erosion and the reburial process will affect the most vital rivers in the world.

They noted that there was a significantly higher amount of mercury in the water and sediment in small towns along the river, which is certainly concerning for the millions of people living in the area.

Therefore, these scientists argue that an almost constant study must be underway to carefully watch the mercury levels in the Yukon Basin.

Knowing this will also help determine how mercury could find its way into local food and drinking water sources.

Rivers can erode sediment and deposit mercury-laden soil along sandbars. These readings can give scientists a better understanding of the dangers lurking in the permafrost and the rest of the world.

However, while the new readings are far more accurate than they once were, the scientists argue that they also need to expand their research to include the effects of erosion, the river’s patterns, and the changing ecosystem around it to fully grasp the effects of the ongoing mercury poisoning.

But now, we have one more negative side effect to add to the list: as the Arctic continues to melt, more mercury will be released not just into the Yukon River but all over the world. This means entire ecosystems, including all plants and animals that live there, could die and collapse by 2050.

Prolonged exposure over decades, particularly as mercury levels rise, could have a significant impact on both the environment and the health of residents in these areas.

Currently, experts warn consumers against eating several types of fish due to concerning mercury levels that could lead to mercury poisoning.

You may experience symptoms caused by your immune system trying to expel the compound in the same way it would attack bacteria or germs.

The ratio of mercury to organic carbon in these sediments was 5.4 gigagrams of THg per petagram of carbon in Huslia. In Beaver, the ratio was 4.2 gigagrams per petagram.

“Decades of exposure, especially with increasing levels as more mercury is released, could take a huge toll on the environment and the health of those living in these areas,” added Smith.