Between 1932 and 1968, a chemical factory in Japan released mercury-laden wastewater into Minamata Bay. The mercury was modified to methylmercury by bacteria living in bottom sediments. This resulted in severe mercury poisoning in over 2,000 people. Since people don't eat bottom sediments, what is the best explanation for how toxic levels of mercury ended up in affected people?

Question

Biology

Kaelyn Hatfield

4 September, 08:03

Between 1932 and 1968, a chemical factory in Japan released mercury-laden wastewater into Minamata Bay. The mercury was modified to methylmercury by bacteria living in bottom sediments. This resulted in severe mercury poisoning in over 2,000 people. Since people don't eat bottom sediments, what is the best explanation for how toxic levels of mercury ended up in affected people?

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Kolton Wilkinson · Answer 1

The toxic still ended up to the affected people because of bioaccumulation. This means that organisms who might have consumed the said mercury was consumed by some larger organisms. These larger organisms were eaten or consumed by human beings. The toxin, in other words, was just passed on to different species.