Katlin Bowman

Mercury is the most complex metal that cycles through our environment. Found naturally in Earth’s crust, solid mercury turns into an invisible gas when heated. Much like increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from human emissions, mercury is also on the rise. Gaseous mercury can remain in the atmosphere for up to one year and as a results, mercury blankets our planet from pole to pole. No region is spared, not even the most remote corners of our planet.

Mercury is transformed to an organic compound called methylmercury by bacteria found in soil and water. Methylmercury sticks to phytoplankton and algae, resulting in bioaccumulation, or increasing concentrations moving up the food chain. Humans are exposed to mercury through consumption of fish, and top predator species (i.e. Tuna, Swordfish, King mackerel) deliver the highest dose.

This talk gives an overview of mercury cycling through the environment from human sources to seafood.

As a kid in northeastern Ohio I never imaged a career in oceanography. Family vacations were a drive to Lake Michigan and by the time I left for college, I had only dipped my toes in the ocean twice. Today my job as an oceanographer takes me across the globe from Tahiti, to east Africa, to the North Pole. But I didn't get here by luck, I advanced by taking chances, working hard, and saying yes to things that scared me. Follow my journey from humble beginnings at the Youngstown State Science Fair into the world of oceanography.