WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. study suggests the impact and extent of mercury pollution in wildlife is much greater than previously thought.
The report by the National Wildlife Federation -- based on 65 different scientific studies -- says mercury pollution is making its way into nearly every habitat in the United States, exposing countless species of wildlife to potentially harmful levels of mercury.
"From songbirds to alligators, turtles to bats, eagles to otters, mercury is accumulating in nearly every corner of the food chain," said Catherine Bowes, principal author of the study. "This report paints a compelling picture of mercury contamination in the U.S., and many more species are at risk than we previously thought."
The National Wildlife Federation report highlights mercury levels in fish, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians living in freshwater, marine, and forest habitats across the country.
Scientists say fish with high mercury levels have difficulty schooling and spawning, birds lay fewer eggs and have trouble caring for their chicks, and mammals have impaired motor skills that affect their ability to hunt and find food.
