The highest mercury USGS has ever found.
Trace mineral supplements from the Great Salt Lake contain mercury levels 25 times higher than those triggering fish consumption warnings. Over a century of mining pollution in a terminal lake that never flushes.
Mercury above fish warning levels
Arsenic above EPA residential limits
Toxic lakebed now exposed
"We thought we would find some high levels of methylmercury, but not some of the highest the USGS has ever found," said research hydrologist David Naftz. This terminal lake - which has no outlet to flush contaminants - has accumulated over 150 years of industrial pollution.
A century of contamination.
Kennecott Copper Mine
One of the world's largest mines, operating since the 1860s. Selenium groundwater plumes from the tailings pond continue migrating toward lake wetlands.
US Magnesium Facility
Superfund-designated site that released dioxins, PCBs, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and zinc into lake waters. Failed to complete required containment measures.
Evaporation Concentration
Mineral extraction pumps lake brine into evaporation ponds. As water evaporates, both desired minerals and heavy metals become progressively concentrated.
2020 study: Peak contamination in the 1950s showed metal concentrations 20-40 times above natural background levels. Current surface sediments still show 2-5 fold elevations.
Mercury concentrates up the food chain.
50-fold increase from base of food chain
ConcenTrace sued for lead contamination.
In 2014, the Environmental Research Center filed suit against Trace Minerals Research, alleging lead levels exceeding California's Proposition 65 safe harbor limit of 0.5 micrograms per day. The company settled, agreeing to reformulate or add required health warnings.
Products Named in Lawsuit
- ConcenTrace Trace Mineral Tablets
- Complete Calcium & Magnesium
- ActivJoint Plus
- Multiple other formulations
The gap: Meeting federal standards doesn't guarantee freedom from concerning contamination levels, particularly under more stringent state regulations designed to protect vulnerable populations.
Cleaner alternatives exist.
Ancient Seabed Minerals (Zechstein)
Protected 1,600-2,000 meters underground for 250 million years. Tests completely free of mercury, lead, arsenic, and fluoride. Formed before industrial contamination existed.
Southern Hemisphere Ocean Sources
88% less pollution exposure than Northern Hemisphere. Dynamic ocean ecosystem continuously dilutes contaminants unlike terminal lakes.
Chelated Minerals
Laboratory-synthesized forms eliminate environmental contamination risks. Studies show 11% better zinc absorption and 4-fold reduction in required dosage.
Health supplements shouldn't come from toxic sources.
With mercury levels that shocked government scientists, arsenic exceeding EPA limits by 1,200%, and documented lead contamination triggering legal action - safer alternatives from ancient seabeds and clean ocean sources offer superior purity without the contamination risks.