Thanks to high fish consumption, wealthy New Yorkers are more
likely than their less-affluent neighbors to have elevated
mercury in their blood, according to a new study that's the
first city-specific survey of mercury levels. New Yorkers in the
top tax bracket have blood mercury levels 50 percent higher than
those in the bottom bracket. The study also found that women and
Asian New Yorkers have blood that's more contaminated than the
citywide average. This widely circulated AP story on the study
downplays the threat of mercury to people, quoting a health
official who admits "it would be best" for pregnant women and
young children to avoid contamination from poisoned fish -
despite the fact that scientists around the world have declared
the danger of mercury contamination to the developing fetus, and
believe that adult men may be at risk, too. The story does,
helpfully, point out it's probably not the best idea to eat fish
taken from the rivers alongside Manhattan, the heavily polluted
Hudson and East rivers.