Mercury can travel long distances in the air and water, falling into aquatic environments via rain, snow, or dry particles, and sometimes via direct discharge from industrial sites, mines, or even through naturally occurring mercury.

Once in the environment, the mercury becomes part of the ecosystem and gets into the food chain.  It will bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify up food chains as bigger and bigger organisms ingest the mercury in their diet.

Mercury is toxic to humans and animals. In humans, mercury:

• Impacts the nervous system

• Impairs hearing, speech, vision, and gait

• Causes involuntary muscle movements

• Corrodes skin and mucous membranes

• Causes chewing and swallowing to become difficult 

Both state and federal health agencies issue warnings about the types of fish people should not eat or bodies of water where they should not recreate. You can find the most up-to-date fish-consumption advisories for Massachusetts on the state’s Department of Public Health.