Mercury Rising

Dr. Jane Hightower, a San Francisco physician, gained international attention after linking mercury poisoning symptoms in her patients, who were heavy fish consumers, to high mercury levels in their blood. Her study of 123 patients, published in 2003, revealed symptoms like hair loss and memory lapses, which improved when fish consumption was reduced. Despite skepticism from some scientists due to the lack of a control group, her findings prompted increased awareness and regulatory advisories on mercury in fish, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children. Hightower's work highlighted the dangers of mercury pollution, primarily from coal-fired power plants, and its accumulation in large predatory fish, urging more education and stricter pollution controls.