In the late 1980s, there was great concern for Florida panthers that ate raccoons in the Everglades. I was worried about mercury levels in fish and avoided it for a long time, so I understand why you would.
In nature, the many ways mercury is released include dust storms, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and breakdown of the earth's crust by wind and water. Throughout Florida waters, common dolphin, also called mahi-mahi, contain very low mercury levels. Methyl-mercury becomes more concentrated as it moves up the food chain in a process called biomagnification. Further studies have implicated mercury as a neurotoxin (a compound that negatively affects the central nervous system) in humans. Some other counties send part or all of their solid waste to solid waste incineration facilities operating in another county.Also per the law above, all MCDs, including those from households and other residential buildings, are prohibited by law from being disposed of at any municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal facility in Florida such as a landfill or solid waste incinerator.These prohibitions are not dependent on whether the MCLs or MCDs are hazardous wastes, but apply to lamps (e.g., even to the low mercury fluorescent lamps currently on the market) and devices containing added mercury in any amount.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. Although some of the upper-level predators and offshore pelagic species contain comparatively high mercury levels, others do not. Microorganisms in the soil and water (primarily sulfate-reducing bacteria) convert mercury into a more toxic form called methyl-mercury.Methyl-mercury is a problem because unlike elemental mercury, which passes through an organism, methyl-mercury accumulates in animal tissues. Average concentrations of mercury for this fast-growing offshore pelagic species are among the lowest levels observed in Florida marine fishes. MCLs from households and other residential sources are not included in the following definition under Florida law and thus are exempt from Florida's regulations covering MCLs.MCDs include mercury-containing thermometers, thermostats, switches and relays, manometers, other devices that contain liquid mercury, and mercury-containing ampoules that have been removed from these devices or from MCLs in accordance with the Per 403.7186, F.S., (linked above), MCLs are prohibited from being disposed of at solid waste incineration facilities (i.e., waste-to-energy facilities or municipal waste combustors) in Florida. For example, when the next level organism higher in the food chain consumes bacteria that produce methyl-mercury, the bacteria pass on their total burden of methyl-mercury.