World Oceans Day 2018: Regulating Lead and Mercury Releases has Decreased Marine Pollution, IAEA Research Shows

The levels of lead and mercury in the sea reduce noticeably following concrete actions to limit their release, recent research at the IAEA using nuclear techniques has shown. The banning of leaded petrol and the closure of a mercury discharging plant have led to decreases in pollution levels over 10-15 years.

Human activities including industry and agriculture can have a significant impact on the marine environment due to the release of pollutants into the sea. The new research has demonstrated that after government regulation put an end to certain environmentally unfriendly practices, pollution trends in the sea can be reversed. Read more.