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Dr. examines loon's wing
Dr. Mark Pokras examines the wing of a loon as he begins a necropsy on the bird at his Tufts University lab. Staff photo by David A. Rodgers.
The loon, Maine's symbol of conservation, is being threatened by high and still rising levels of mercury pollution. But that's not all. People are threatened too, and the federal and state governments haven't done much about the situation.

The Mercury Menace
As pollution weakens Maine's beloved loons, a broader alarm sounds.

Biologists fear mercury is silent killer of loons
While it doesn't appear to kill loons outright, some researchers believe mercury renders the bird vulnerable to disease.

Into the night: Monitoring for mercury
Biologists engage in nighttime forays to capture loons, which are tested for traces of the toxic metal.

Chart: The toxic cycle
Original content in this site by Lori Haugen, graphics by Kathy Jungjohann, Guy Gannett New Media. Questions or comments? E-mail us.


Mercury's toll on nature | Politics and pollution
What mercury can do to you | One polluter's story
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