Answer to Question #129125 in Chemistry for Kishore Kumar

Question

Q . Export fishes are believed to be containmented with Mercury give reason why?

Answer 1

Mercury is present in low concentration in seawater. However, when mercury is absorbed by algae and plankton, it is converted into organic compound methylmercury that has a relatively high level of bioaccumulation. As it is a fat-soluble compound, it accumulates in various sea organisms. As sea fish consume high amounts of algae, plankton, and small invertebrates, they accumulate high amounts of mercury in the form of methylmercury that is stored in adipose tissues and are not excreted from the organism. Farmed fish species also accumulate methylmercury as the fish food derived from marine organic matter might be contaminated with mercury.