Mercury Pollution

Mercury (Methylmercury) is a toxic pollutant that can significantly affect human and ecosystem health. Fish consumption is the main source of methylmercury exposure for people worldwide, where marine fish constitute 92% of the global fish harvest for human consumption.

There are many ways for mercury pollution to get into our waterways and ocean. Mercury naturally comes from few natural sources such as volcanic eruptions, though around two-thirds come from human activities. The single biggest source of mercury comes from anthropogenic activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. Especially coal, having rainfall wash mercury into the ocean.

Mercury pollution within the ocean has more than doubled in the last century, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification in ocean food webs. Mercury contaminates fish and other species of seafood that are a significant source of food and nutrition worldwide.

Human health risks from methylmercury exposure has been widely documented, and include neurological effects, impaired fetal and infant growth, and possible contributions to cardiovascular disease. Since the developing brain is particularly sensitive to methylmercury, women of childbearing age, pregnant and breastfeeding women, developing fetuses, and children under the age of 12 are among the most vulnerable.