Does that explain MetroWest Daily News reporter David Riley?
Riley reports in “Mercury poisons Mass. from afar“:
Massachusetts has slashed in-state emissions of mercury more than 90 percent since the mid-1990s, but the toxic metal continues to rain down on the state from smokestacks in other regions of the United States that have been slower to clean up their act…
Mercury is a neurotoxin that mainly harms the brain…
Less than 0.5% of atmospheric mercury comes from U.S. power plants — 25 tons in 2010. In contrast, China and India emitted about 1,000 tons in 2005. Current emissions would be greater.
In contrast, volcanoes emit on average about 700 tons per year — with quiet, slow effusion emitting about 75 to 100 tons per year.
Despite all of the above, there is no evidence that ambient mercury has ever harmed anyone.