STOPPING toxic mercury vapour from belching into the environment from coal-fired power stations has proved virtually impossible till now. But a chance discovery could provide a solution, although sceptics caution that the remedy has only been observed in the lab.
Mercury pollution is a major threat to health and the environment. The biggest source is the 4 billion tonnes of coal burnt each year for energy. Mercury accumulates in living things and passes up the food chain, sometimes reaching dangerous concentrations in seafood. Mercury poisoning can cause fetal deformities, as well as brain damage and learning difficulties in children and…
