Ancient Maya Used Red Paint, Contaminating Water with Mercury

• The Maya used cinnabar, a red mercury-sulfide mineral, extensively in their paint.
• Cinnabar run-off entered waterways, where bacteria transformed it into toxic methylmercury.
• Mercury contamination was found at multiple ancient Maya sites.
• The pollution may have contributed to the collapse of two lakes.
• The study reveals the environmental cost of the Maya's use of mercury in their culture.