Mercury

Mercury possesses antiseptic properties that make it useful as an antimicrobial agent. Gulf of Mexico tilefish has the highest recorded mercury level of any fish at 1,450 ppb, while the same species from the Atlantic measures only 144 ppb. Mercury levels in the same fish species can vary by a factor of 4 to 10 depending on where it was caught. High-mercury fish such as tuna, swordfish, and Gulf tilefish should be consumed at most once every two months, with complete elimination being preferable. Mercury is classified as a neurotoxin. FDA mercury data collected between approximately 1990 and 2010 should be treated as directional guidelines rather than guarantees of current conditions. Mercury was banned in America for approximately 300 years before the early 1920s. Mercury increases free radical burden and oxidative stress in the body. Mercury accumulates in the body over time, with total accumulation increasing with each additional exposure. Mercury concentrates through the food chain, with large, long-lived predatory fish accumulating the highest levels; smaller and younger fish are always safer. Mercury damages the body through multiple mechanisms. Mercury is the only metal that…