[2] Mercury pollution has become a sensitive issue in Canada for the past few decades and many steps have been taken for prevention at local, national, and international levels.
[6] However, after the mercury-free environment campaign and 2010s provincial and territorial cap of mercury emission using coal, its rate dropped dramatically.
Waste incineration was a big contributor to mercury emission in the atmosphere, being in the top 2 in 2003 by having 20% of the total (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2013).
In 2003, it reported for 19% of the total by still being in the top three Canadian mercury emitters (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2013).
This industry still contributes to mercury emission but, in quite small quantities because of the anti-pollution rules and reduction in the number of plants (Environment Canada, 2000).
The most common sources of entering mercury into the food chain are marine animals like fish and shellfish.
It becomes a problem for those environments only, which have a low reversible rate (of methylmercury) in comparison to its formation from inorganic mercury.
[11] Mercury effects were first noticed in wildlife before humans, birds were noted having flying difficulties and some other abnormal behavior.
Methylmercury can have serious effects on the nervous system, lowers immunity, malfunctioning and toxicity of kidney, numbness, skin related problems, hearing and sight issues, lack of muscle coordination, intellectual impairment, and so on.
It also has shown severe effects on fetus and developing children (especially through mothers) causing serious nervous system, hearing, vision, and speech issues (United States Environment Protection Agency, 2020).
Governments have conducted a variety of research on different locations and sources and have published reports on official website for public use and knowledge.