Why is there so much mercury in coal compared to modern plants?

Subject: Why is there so much mercury in coal compared to modern plants?

Date: Wed Nov 11 13:14:07 2009
Posted by Dave
Grade level: nonaligned School: No school entered.
City: Los Lunas State/Province: New Mexico Country: USA
Area of science: Earth Sciences
ID: 1257970447.Es

Message:


Coal combustion is one of the largest sources of Hg in the environment because 
of the Hg in coal.  Coal formed from plants, but burning wood today does not 
release significant Hg.  Were the plants that formed coal higher in Hg than 
modern plants?  And, if so, why?

Re: Why is there so much mercury in coal compared to modern plants?

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