One of world’s deadliest snakes help scientists find pollution

(Photo by Regan Dsouza via Pexels) By Talker

By Stephen Beech

One of the world's deadliest snakes can help sniff out pollution, according to new research.

Black Mambas could prove "key players" in tracking pollution - while at the same time keeping ecosystems healthy, say scientists.

Thy have shown that heavy metals - such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury - accumulate in the scales of the world's second most venomous snake .

The study, conducted on Black Mambas snakes captured alive in Durban, South Africa, is the first of its kind to examine heavy metal accumulation in an African snake species.

The findings, published in the journal Environmental Pollution , mean that researchers can use scale clippings from the snakes to accurately measure environmental pollution level