Mercury Special Pollutants Mercury Mercury is an environmental problem around the world. Minnesota and other states with many lakes are especially aware of this because one of the most serious ways people are exposed to mercury is through eating contaminated fish.
Some mercury is natural in the environment.
Some comes from our intentional uses of mercury, and some is a polluting byproduct of burning coal and certain mining and manufacturing processes. It is relatively easy to prevent mercury from some sources from entering the environment, but it may be very difficult to control mercury from other sources. For example, we can purchase products with no mercury instead of similar products made with mercury, such as fever thermometers. On the other hand, the mercury in the emissions from burning coal or heating taconite pellets is difficult to capture and, even when captured, over time some of the captured mercury could escape to the environment. The MPCA has undertaken many projects aimed at reducing mercury use and mercury contamination.