Mercury (Hg)

• is extremely poisonous

• enters the atmosphere when coal is burned

• can be consumed by fish after reaching water

• has recently been shown to affect birds that eat 

Research into mercury’s effects on birds Claire Varian-Ramos is studying:

• changes in birds’  and mental processes such as memory
• changes in birdsong, which young birds normally learn from their 

Findings:

• exposure to mercury results in songs that are less .
• this may lower successful .

Laboratory studies:

• provide researchers with greater .

Implications for humans

• Migratory birds such as  may contain mercury and later be eaten.
• Mercury may interfere with the learning of .
• Mercury entering a mother’s body through  may harm her unborn child.
• Regulations controlling mercury emissions will increase everyone’s energy .