In a U.S. Geological Survey-led study, researchers combined more than a decade of data on dragonfly mercury concentrations with commonly measured water-quality and landscape characteristics to develop a model that estimates freshwater mercury risk on protected lands across the nation.
A major advantage of the new model is its ability to estimate mercury levels in previously untested areas. The model also provides important insights into how mercury exposure risk varies across different landscapes using commonly collected and widely available information about water chemistry and land cover.Results from the new model will assist scientists, resource managers and policymakers in evaluating environmental health
