Report Mercury in the Global Environment: Patterns of Global Seafood Mercury Concentrations and their Relationship with Human Health
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), December 2012
This report, produced by Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), examines seafood mercury concentrations from existing reputable sources and presents collated data on different types of seafood with the goal of explaining the significance of these findings as they relate to ecological and human health. The report provides insight into the species of marine organisms with greatest concentrations of mercury. These data are then related to global seafood capture data to provide insight into the potential risks associated with consumption of marine species with high mercury concentrations.
These data also identify marine species within the global seafood market that have low average mercury concentrations. Results outlined in this report can contribute toward the development of national fish consumption advisories for mercury.
The Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is taking action to develop a global, legally binding treaty designed to monitor and regulate mercury emissions.
BRI’s study highlights the global scale of mercury pollution and reinforces UNEP’s efforts towards ratifying a global mercury treaty.
