Mercury contamination in California waterways
Open-knowledge reference entry
Mercury contamination in California waterways poses a threat to both the environment and human health. This naturally occurring heavy metal may be released into the environment from natural geological sources, but most commonly occurs from anthropogenic mining operations. This metal poses a threat not only for its effects on organisms, but also for difficulty of removal from waterways and the trouble in efficiently detecting it. The roots of mercury poisoning in waterways began with the historic mining of gold within California's streambed and hillsides; since the California Gold Rush, mercury has been used for gold extraction for its ability as a catalyze with the precious metal. due to the process of extraction and washing, mercury used would either be burned away as a hazardous vapor, or washed away into waterflows, resulting in widespread contamination of river and lake sediments. Mercury continues to be released today through anthropogenic sources, though state and federal agencies work to manage and ban these practices and to mitigate its effect on the environmental and on people. Many water bodies in the state of California bear fish consumption advisories due to mercury content.
Historical start of mercury pollution in California
Historically the Gold rush represents the beginning of mercury pollution in California's waterways, as well as a plethora of water related issues. The California Gold Rush can be traced to James Marshall's January 24, 1848 discovery of gold on John Sutter's property. Marshall was a carpenter who helped construct the Sutter saw mill for Sutter, and the night before the iconic gold discovery Marshall diverted water from the American River through the lumber mill he was constructing tailrace to wash away loose gravel and dirt.
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