Researchers report that seals and sea lions might contribute significant amounts of toxic mercury to coastal ecosystems via top-down contamination. Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxin that accumulates in marine food chains, posing a threat to environmental and human health. High mercury concentrations have been found in mussels found near large seal and sea lion colonies, suggesting that these mammals might be a significant source of MeHg contamination.
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