Mercury in fish: A literature review

Abstract

This review examines the literature on mercury contamination in fish beginning with the man‐made incidents and its sequelae around Minamata Bay in Japan during the period 1953 to 1960. Mercury poisoning in animals in Sweden and Canada leading to discovery of industrial contamination of waters and fish, which resulted in regulatory action by Canada and the United States, is described and discussed. Finally, salient features of natural background mercury concentrations in water and fish, not associated with man‐made pollution, and the impact of the 0.5 ppm FDA guideline on the fishing industry are covered along with suggestions for possible modification of the present guideline.