For years we have been conscious of our diet, selecting fish for the many healthful, nutritional benefits, even before the specific details of omega-3 fatty acids were common knowledge. Yet fish, particularly those species high on the food chain, accumulate contaminants which can jeopardize health. What to do? How to choose? We have spent the last twenty-five years studying mercury, lead and cadmium in fish, often near heavily contaminated sites, like Superfund dumps, Department of Energy nuclear weapons sites, and contaminated harbors and bays. For the last three years, however, we have been working with the Jersey Coast Anglers Association to examine levels of mercury in fish caught by recreational fishermen along the Jersey shore. It is an exciting project because recreational fishing is an important cultural and economic part of New Jersey. Fish, however, are the only major source of methylmercury exposure for the general public. Read Rest of Article.

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