High levels of mercury found in hair of people eating whales: study

Friday 17th October, 06:03 AM JST

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gogogo at 01:41 PM JST - 17th October

This has been a known fact for years.
Patrick Smash at 01:42 PM JST - 17th October

Sea chicken is not tuna I think. It is a mix of mainly tuna. The other bits of the mix I'm not sure of, but I heard there is a reason why they do not call it tuna, and use the expression sea chicken.

Moderator: Back on topic please.
anshin at 02:17 PM JST - 17th October

Mercury is shiny so it should make one's hair shiny also.
kavikahi at 03:06 PM JST - 17th October

round and round the chain they go, now we must clean the deep blue to keep healthy, the whales don't need the mercury either huh?
gaijintraveller at 04:09 PM JST - 17th October

"Mad as a hatter" is an appropriate term to describe those who consume a lot of pilot whale meat.

I thought someone else would explain the origin of "Mad as a hatter", but as nobody did, I shall do so myself.

"Mercury used to be used in the making of hats. This was known to have affected the nervous systems of hatters, causing them to tremble and appear insane." http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/mad-as-a-hatter.html
cleo at 04:19 PM JST - 17th October

Thank you for that little nugget, gaijintraveller. From your link - Mercury exposure can cause aggressiveness, mood swings, and anti-social behaviour.
Nessie at 05:09 PM JST - 17th October

They should be called "sea thermometer", not "sea chicken.

And dolphins are whales: (definition) "Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of the large species"

And dolphin in Japan would be mislabeled if it were labeled "kujira." Labeling it as "whale" in English would not be entirely inaccurate, just somewhat misleading.
ca1ic0cat at 08:48 PM JST - 17th October

the irony is delicious...
LIBERTAS at 02:23 AM JST - 18th October

Today whales, tomorrow people. Soon the whole ecosystem will have the equivalent of Minamata-byou.
bushlover at 08:38 AM JST - 18th October

Why oh why do we eat the animals!!??? Let them live. Cut down all vegetation and eat it instead. There is no mercury in that!! We'll all be safe then.
NetteMarie at 11:41 PM JST - 18th October

STOP EATING THE WHALES! There are enough fish in the sea, why do you need to eat an endangered species?!

The whole tradition response in stupid. It is not Japanese tradition to eat loads of corn on everything, but they do now. Change your diet! It's not necessary or harmonious with nature!

If you could grow them on a farm, I would say fair play.
slappayuki at 05:15 AM JST - 19th October

Whales are delicious and a part of our culture. I don't think other countries have the right to tell us what we can and cannot eat.
NuckinFutz at 10:17 PM JST - 20th October

Loss of intelligence is also a symptom of methyl-mercury poisoning. There's no getting out of this one Japan! Keep eating the poison while telling yourself it safe and healthy!
boobug at 03:34 PM JST - 24th October

Why stop at whales ? In the recent past we've learned of high levels of mercury in shellfish, tuna, dolphins, and now whales. Seems to me that Japan continues to suffer from the "head in the sand" syndrome. Much like the problem with chinese tainted vegetables, Japans fish markets are just raging with toxic poisons !
roomtemperature at 06:44 PM JST - 24th October

"Japans fish markets are just raging with toxic poisons !"

BS!!! You know it, I know it, everyone knows it!!!

Another prime example of Boobug's whisful thinking.