![Methylmercury (sometimes methyl mercury) is an organometallic cation with the formula [CH3Hg]+. It is the simplest organomercury compound. Methylmercury is extremely toxic, and its derivatives are the major source of organic mercury for humans.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3c3921_b575c2686864432aa75303740127fdfd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626,h_444,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/3c3921_b575c2686864432aa75303740127fdfd~mv2.jpg)
Minamata Sea is located in Japan. Here in 1956, thousands of people died and many became inactive. If we investigate what is the reason for all this, it has been revealed that it happened because the people of this area ate the fish in that sea area. The chemical responsible for that is mercury.
Mercury is commonly used to make thermometers and some medical equipment, to separate gold from its ore in gold mines, and to make some pesticides. In this way mercury used in industries is mixed with water bodies as industrial wastes.
This mercury dissolves in water bodies and is converted to methylmercury by certain microorganisms. It is considered to be many times more toxic than ordinary mercury. This methylmercury is more lipid soluble.
Due to this, it is easily dissolved in the body of fish living in aquatic conditions. It has been found in the end of the research that this methyl mercury begins to accumulate in our body little by little through fish and thus affects the central nervous system. Therefore, it is better to buy after knowing whether the fish you are buying is of good quality. When you pay to buy fish, you have the right to know the environment from which the fish is sourced.
"Better safe than sorry"
"Prevention is better than cure"
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