Thanks to a declining use of coal, concentrations of mercury in Atlantic Bluefin tuna have dropped significantly. A study from Long Island’s Stony Brook University notes a 19 per cent drop in mercury levels between 2002 and 2012 for the warm-blooded fish, used frequently to make sushi. The drop in levels is attributed to tougher emissions rules on power plants and general reductions in coal-burning.
Mercury, a toxic heavy metal, is carried into the ocean by way of emissions. Because Atlantic Bluefin tuna sit at the top of the food chain, levels of mercury can build up to very high concentrations as they eat smaller fish over their lifespan – one that is much longer than other fish.
The study’s senior author Nicholas Fisher said tuna is the “largest pathway for mercury exposure for people.” It’s no surprise that mercury contamination is a serious public health issue – but this recent news from the North Atlantic suggests mercury poisoning can be reversed far more rapidly than scientists had thought. It’s also bringing to light the true economic cost of coal infrastructure: environmental impact, clean-up and poor competitive edge must all be factored in before profit can even be considered. Coal is on its way out, and it’s showing in our tuna.
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Read about Canada’s phasing out of coal-fired electricity by 2030.