Tag: Minamata

Retreating glaciers might be reason for surge in heavy metals in Arctic animals

Jemma Wadham is taking samples of meltwater from the Salajekna Glacier in Northern Norway. With the sample, she is trying to determine if glacial retreat is leading to release of heavy metals into the sea. Photo: T. Bruckner

Ole Ellekrog

An ambitious research project is surveying 16 glaciers to determine if increased levels of heavy metals in Arctic animals are related to glacial retreat.