Mercury pollution doesn't just hit us in the brain, it hits us in the wallet

Mercury certainly is a contaminant of concern, especially due to its bioaccumulation in finfish and shellfish tissues. Due to that bioaccumulation, humans being at the top of the food chain are the "resting place" for such contaminants.

The true contaminant of concern is not so much elemental mercury, but Methyl-Mercury; a toxic and dangerous form. I have done research on the Chesapeake Bay and mercury bioaccumulation is an extreme danger. This becomes a problem not only for human health, but also for socio-economic reasons! When the health risks become extreme, fisheries must shut down. Now, this changes the whole system: jobs are lost and an area where its economy is based around fishing production, collapses. So you can see, that cleaning up toxic contamination is not simply to prevent human health impacts, but there is a strong economic variable. Environmentalist or Non-Environmentalist, something SHOULD be done. It is important to impose management strategies to decrease current issues and prevent future impacts so that future generations have the proper resources. My point is, environmental remediation is not only for the ecosystem, but it is for the overall economic prosperity and smooth running nature of the socio-economic system. Sustainability is the key; it is the future.

Eric Rubin
Environmental Scientist - "annonymous" Environmental Consulting Firm
B.A. Geography "The George Washington University"
M.A. Environmental Management "Montclair State University"