Mercury rising?

If anyone eats swordfish they will know how tasty it is. Its steaks are similar to tuna steaks but maybe a little more ‘meaty’. Unfortunately, swordfish has a tendency to accumulate high levels of mercury as methyl mercury. As in humans, the fish has no way of excreting the metal once it is absorbed.

Image kindly reproduced according to the licence at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xiphias_gladius1.jpg

The mercury gets into the water through a variety of sources, from coal burning power stations to chlorine producing plants. Unfortunately, most mercury pollution could be eliminated relatively easily if pollution-control devices were installed.

Indeed, mercury levels are so high in swordfish that FDA advice is that it should not be consumed by young children, pregnant women, and women of child-bearing age.

Article sourced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_in_fish