Are the levels of mercury higher in fish from Vieques?
Because of its persistence in the environment and bioaccumulative property, mercury is the primary contaminant driving fish advisories—almost 75% of all fish advisories are related to mercury contamination (EPA 2002). In general, the levels of mercury measured in fish collected from Vieques were about the same as those from the mainland of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In Vieques, the average mercury level was 0.12 ppm. Average mercury levels found in the same species of fish from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands ranged from 0.07 to 0.70 (Burger et al. 1992). Average mercury levels in seafood species, collected nationwide, ranged from not detected to 1.45 ppm (FDA 2001b). It is also interesting to note that people who eat fish from Vieques would receive about as much mercury as people who eat canned tuna (according to a 1991 FDA survey, the average mercury concentration in canned tuna is 0.17 ppm; Yess 1993 as cited in ATSDR 1999a).
