How mercury ends up in fish.(Chicago Tribune)

Byline: Bob Condor

Some basics about mercury can help us make healthier decisions about eating the right amounts and types of fish:

Mercury is part of the Earth's natural geology. About 2,700 to 6,000 tons of mercury gas are released annually by processes in the Earth's crust and oceans.

But 2,000 to 3,000 more tons are emitted into the atmosphere each year by human activities, such as burning household and industrial wastes, especially from coal. This extra gas goes right into our land and water. Fish absorb and retain methyl mercury from water as it passes over their gills and as they feed on aquatic organisms such as plankton. Methyl mercury is a …