A new scientific study has analysed one of the biggest problems related to fish consumption. And in particular of a popular fish species in Spain that is widely eaten. The research was carried out by an international team. Furthermore, it has taken samples of some 3,000 tuna species from the vast Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
Tuna is one of the “queen fish species” in terms of consumption and from a commercial point of view. The mercury problem has been known for decades, but nothing has changed. And that comes with risks.
Mercury has been found in tuna for over fifty years
The main conclusion of the scientific research is as damning as it is clear. Since 1971, the mercury levels found in the bodies of this economically important fish species have hardly decreased. This is reported by EFE Verde, the green section of the Spanish EFE news agency.
Also read: Eating fish in Spain – which are the safest due to the lower mercury content?
Need for stricter emission reduction targets
The research was published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters of the prestigious American Chemical Society. The conclusions also contain recommendations for reversing this historical trend.
The authors of the study agree that stricter emission reduction targets are needed. This can be used to start reducing the mercury content in tuna.
The form in which mercury is normally found in fish is called methylmercury. While the scientists acknowledge that environmental protection policies have marked a turning point in curbing pollution from activities such as mining, the focus is on the fact that humans can still be exposed to methylmercury.
Risks of mercury
Thus, unborn babies – during pregnancy – but also children are among the main groups most at risk of harm from this issue. Most importantly, methylmercury is a toxic substance. If consumed in large quantities, mercury can affect the nervous system, which is still forming and developing in the youngest children. Methylmercury can contaminate breast milk.
Also read: Which is the best canned tuna in Spanish supermarkets
