In 1956, people in Minamata, Japan, began to exhibit severe neurological disorders and birth defects. This problem was eventually attributed to methylmercury, a water-insoluble and breakdown-resistant chemical formed from mercury dumped into the adjacent bay by a local factory. People who ate which of the following seafoods would you expect were most affected?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tuna that feed on smaller fish that feed on krill that feed on algae are at the top of the food chain and accumulate higher concentrations of methylmercury due to biomagnification. Therefore, people who eat tuna from contaminated waters are likely to have the highest levels of methylmercury exposure and be most affected by its neurological effects.

In 1956, People in Minamata, Japan, Began to Exhibit Severe