Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE NEW MERCURY POLLUTION THREAT TO AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS OF INDIA- NO EXAMPLE FROM KERALA

P.K. Omana and Mahesh Mohan

Abstract

Mercury pollution in India has become a new environmental threat as the country has been identified as the biggest consumer of mercury and the amount releasing in to its environment is between 172.5 to 200 tonnes every year. In this study Total mercury (TI-Ig) was analysed for water, sediment and fish samples from the Vembanad wetland, near shore areas and adjoining river systems during February 2004 to March 2005. The highest concentration showed in water and sediment was 130 ng/ L and 12.2 vig/ g respectively. The study envisages the need for initiating better scientific investigations to take bold steps against mercury use in our country.