Mercury Concentration Found in Fish Is Increasing Alarmingly

According to a new study, the mercury concentration levels found in a species of fish called the yellowfin tuna have been increasing by 3.8% annually since 1998.

The new reports were published in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and researchers say that the new findings are new evidence that air pollution, especially from burning coal, is increasing the level of mercury that is pumped into the ocean food chain.

Scientists reveal that the increased mercury concentration is very dangerous to human health.
Paul Drevnick, eco toxicologist at the University of Michigan and one of the lad authors of the study, explained that there is plenty of evidence which shows that the increased concentration of mercury in the oceans is from human sources. Drevnick adds that the levels are rising due to the mercury emissions that are dumped into the oceans.

Researchers have analyzed the data from three studies that looked at the mercury concentration found in yellowfin tuna fish. The studies were conducted in Hawaii in 1971, 1998 and 2008.

The researchers found that from 1971 to 1998 the mercury level did not go up, however, the data revealed that since 1998 the mercury concentration has gone up by 3.8% per year.
Carl Lamborg, co-author of the study, said that the levels of mercury found in yellowfin tuna fish are very concerning. He explains that the concentration of mercury keeps increasing and if nothing changes, most of the fish in the oceans are in danger.

Carl Lamborg conducted the study at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts.
According to the study, at the moment, the levels of methyl mercury found in fish are not hazardous to human health, and eating a diet based on fish is still beneficial.

The study reveals that if nothing changes, the mercury concentration in the Pacific Ocean could double by 2050.
FDA and Environmental Protection Agency have recently updated the recommendation regarding fish consumption which says that pregnant women should eat a weekly minimum of 8 to 12 ounces of fish that are known to be low in mercury. This will help fetal development and healthy growth.
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