In the Mountain West, glaciers 鈥� large masses of ice and snow accumulated over many years 鈥� can be found in mountain ranges in Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming.
When glaciers melt, these large chunks of snow and ice release sulfate-rich minerals that flow downstream into watersheds. As sulfate accumulates, it can create a potent neurotoxin called methylmercury.
Researchers from the University of Colorado, Boulder tested local soils in nearby mountains to measure for the toxin. They methylmercury in peatlands, which are wetlands consisting largely of organic matter from decaying plants.
In the wetlands above the treeline, there were very low levels of methylmercury. But below the treeline, levels of the toxin were much higher.
This can pollute the wetland鈥檚 water, fish and wildlife, said study author Hannah Miller.
鈥淚f you are eating out of these ecosystems, or eating downstream, or drinking water downstream from these ecosystems, there could be a direct impact on how much mercury is in your food source and also how much mercury is in your water,鈥� Miller said.
Miller noted the contamination levels were not concerning, but the findings can help land managers monitor climate change鈥檚 future impacts on mercury levels.
鈥淭his is sort of a good step in the direction of having a better understanding of what is happening in mountain wetlands,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd what is the potential climate change impact on how mercury moves through those systems?鈥�
The study didn鈥檛 include any other parts of the Mountain West, but Miller pointed out that rising temperatures are melting glaciers around the region.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, 萝莉少女 in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the .