U.S. forest fires–and mercury?

Speaking of fires in WAC?‘s San Diego neighborhood, forest fires in Alaska and the continental United States–California, Oregon, Louisiana and Florida–release nearly 44 metric tons of mercury into the atmosphere every year, according to a recent paper by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The Southeastern U.S. emits most of this toxic metal. The mercury comes from both industrial and natural sources. See “Scientists Estimate Mercury Emissions from U.S. Fires” in Environmental Protection magazine or NCAR website.