Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution : 1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world. 2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution. 3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury How many of the above statements are correct?

QUESTION

Medium

Environment & Ecology

Prelims 2023

Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution :

How many of the above statements are correct?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Gold mining is poisoning Amazon forests with mercury. To separate the gold, miners mix liquid mercury into the sediment, which forms a coating around the gold.
Statement 2 is correct: Fly ash generated by TPPs is one of the ways mercury is released into the environment. Fly ash is usually disposed of in ash ponds in the form of ash slurry, forming an aquatic ecosystem of its own. Coal-based TPPs are the major source of mercury – the ninth most toxic element found on earth — emissions into the environment. Mercury contributed over 80 percent of emissions released by the TPPs, according to 2016 estimates by the Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Science and Environment.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While high levels of mercury exposure can be harmful, there are established safe levels of exposure to mercury for various scenarios. As per different reports currently, mercury vapour concentrations greater than 0.01 mg/m3 are considered unsafe.