Levels of mercury in fish could continue to rise, despite concentrations of the element falling by 30% in the Northern Hemisphere between 1995 and 2010, due to climate change and overfishing. Both factors could force fish to consume more heavily contaminated prey, accumulating the mercury that it contains. This is passed on to humans through the food chain, and is linked to health threats including heart and brain disease. Of methylmercury exposure in the plankton, 80% comes from seafood, with 40% from tuna alone. Rising ocean temperatures also lead fish to eat more, thus increasing their mercury intake.
Levels of mercury in fish could continue to rise, despite concentrations of the element falling by 30% in the Northern Hemisphere between 1995 and 2010, due to climate change and overfishing. Both factors could force fish to consume more heavily contaminated prey, accumulating the mercury that it contains. This is passed on to humans through the food chain, and is linked to health threats including heart and brain disease. Of methylmercury exposure in the US, 80% comes from seafood, with 40% from tuna alone. Rising ocean temperatures also lead fish to eat more, thus increasing their mercury intake.