Communicating the risks and hazards of methylmercury to the Ojibwe population

Abstract

Fatal poisonings due to the consumption of fish containing high concentrations of methylmercury have been well documented, and demonstrate that the consumption of mercury-contaminated fish and other organisms can contribute to adverse human health effects. Native Americans of the Great Lakes region are one of the populations potentially subjected to greater concentrations of methylmercury than the general population because fishery is an integral part of their culture. The purpose of this study is to investigate the Ojibwe of the Great Lakes region\u27s understanding of the risks and hazards associated with the consumption of fish contaminated with methylmercury and increase their awareness, thus allowing them to make independent science-based decisions