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 their diet. Her study of 123 patients, published in 2003, revealed that symptoms like hair loss, depression, and tremors often disappeared when fish consumption was reduced. Despite some scientific criticism for lacking a control group, her findings prompted increased awareness and regulatory actions, such as FDA advisories against consuming certain fish for vulnerable groups. Hightower's work highlighted the dangers of mercury, primarily from coal-fired power plants, accumulating in fish, and she advocated for better education on mercury risks.