Q. Consider the following statements regarding Mercury Pollution:
1.Mercury emitted into the atmosphere can travel long distances across continents before settling back to the earth.
2.Methylmercury is primarily formed in the human body through digestion of elemental mercury.
3.Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest source of anthropogenic mercury emissions globally.
4.Natural re-emission of mercury from land and water surfaces contributes to the current levels of atmospheric mercury.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Mercury can travel thousands of miles in the atmosphere before being deposited via rainfall or as dry particles.
- Methylmercury is formed in the environment, especially in aquatic systems by the action of microorganisms, not in the human body.
- According to the UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2018, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) contributes the largest share (37.7%) of human-caused emissions.
- Mercury previously deposited can be re-emitted from land, water, and other surfaces, adding to current atmospheric levels.
Source: Environment (N.C.E.R.T)
