Economic Benefits of Reducing Methylmercury in Food: an Integrated Approach to Bridge the Gap between Food Toxicology, Public Health and Economy

Methylmercury is one of the most toxic chemical compounds, which raises concern for assessing its effects at local and global levels. The Minamata Convention is a worldwide action established in 2013 to redouble efforts against mercury pollution and its adverse effects on human health. During the last decade, there was an exponential increase in investigating the impacts of methylmercury on food toxicology, human health, economy, among others, although there is a lack of studies that link them. The present study proposes an integrated approach among food toxicology, public health, and economy, to reduce the amount of methylmercury in food. The information generated may allow local regulatory agencies and international organizations to identify which food groups should be focused, thus reducing dietary methylmercury exposure, and developing effective action plans against foodstuffs most harmful to human health.