Warmer oceans due to global warming can lead to a rise in mercury levels in fish, researchers of a new study predict.
Global warming, climatic changes, warmer oceans and destruction of ecosystems have raised some serious concerns over the last few decades. In a study conducted by researchers from Dartmouth College, the consequences of warmer oceans on human health were looked into for the first time.
Researchers of the study found that warmer oceans caused due to climatic changes risk the rise of mercury levels in fish, which in turn could spell dramatic health hazards for humans consuming these fish.
Mercury released into the air through industrial pollution can accumulate in streams and oceans and turns into methylmercury in the water. For the study, researchers examined killifish under various temperatures. These fish were placed in laboratories as well as in salt marsh pools in Maine. The fish in the labs were fed mercury-enriched food while fish in the marsh pools were allowed to eat worms, insects and other natural food sources.
Researchers found that when fish were placed in warmer waters, they ate more but grew less. They also had a higher level of methylmercury in their tissues. This led researchers to speculate that their higher metabolism rate resulted in them consuming higher levels of mercury.
Humans' basic exposure to mercury comes from consuming mercury contaminated fish. The consumption of methylmercury leads to damage to the central nervous system, the heart and the immune system. It also hampers the cognitive development of young children and can even affect brain development of fetuses.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency released a report informing people and expecting mothers about what they need to know about mercury content in fish.