(APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE)
in 1951, a chemical company that manufactured fertilizer began dumping its waste in dinamata Bay.
apan The waste contained mercury that contaminated the ecosystem, making over 2.200 people
with mercury D oning Citizens suffered from high fever convulsions, psychosis, loss of consciousness
coma, and many times ending in death. Approximately 900 people died, as well as most of the birds and
somesticated animals in the area. Scientists investigating the tragedy concluded that people and an mas eating the fish had ingested mercury, which was causing the poisoning and sickness. After 12 years, the dumping was stopped

A. as elemental mercury moves through an aquatic ecosystem, it takes different chemical forms to
become methylmercury, which can then move through food chains. Explain the sequence of events
that take place.

B. Methylmercury is a persistent neurotoxin. Explain what this means

C. Explain why humans and other animals who ate the fish from Minamata Bay suffered from mercury
poisoning.