NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Human-related sources primarily include coal combustion, waste incineration, industrial uses, and mining. During the last 150 years, human activities have more than doubled natural amounts of mercury in the atmosphere. In matural waters, inorganic mercury is generally not a health concern.

Detailed explanation-2: -Since mercury occurs naturally in coal and other fossil fuels, when people burn these fuels for energy, the mercury becomes airborne and goes into the atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-3: -Power plants are now the largest anthropogenic source of Mercury in the United States. To address this concern, new legislation has been proposed to cut emissions of pollutants from power plants. However, different parties disagree on how mercury should be regulated.

Detailed explanation-4: -Coal naturally contains mercury, a neurotoxin that can damage the nervous system, the brain and other organs. When we burn coal, that mercury gets released into the atmosphere and ultimately rains down into bodies of water.