Why do some tuna contain toxic mercury levels, while others don’t?

A new study published by the American Chemical Society may help to explain why toxic methylmercury concentrations in tuna fish vary across different geographic regions. The researchers have mapped the regional variations in an effort to examine the biological, environmental, and ecological factors that are driving these fluctuations. Methylmercury is highly toxic form of mercury that can cause damage to the central nervous system in humans. Methylmercury is known to accumulate in the aquatic food chain, potentially leading to greater concentrations in fish that are …