In another episode of heavy metal pollution, we dive into an island called the Faroe Island where the Faroese people live. This island is situated between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean with a population of about 50,000 people.
Mercury Pollution
Mercury is a non-essential heavy metal that annual global mercury emissions of approximately 2220 metric tons are emitted from anthropogenic sources (EPA, 2020). Mercury in the environment undergoes reaction and transforms into Methylmercury (CH3Hg+) which is the dominant form of Mercury that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in our marine biota (Wang et al., 2018). This elucidates the problem of primary and secondary pollutants and oftentimes, secondary pollutants are more toxic, bioaccumulative, and persistent in the environment than its primary pollutant.
In Fergusson (1990), he stated that >10 ug/g Hg in the liver or >6 ug/g Hg in the brain can cause death whereas >20 ug/dl Hg in the blood can cause chromosome damage (Siegel, 2013). Moreover, the long term poisoning of Mercury can also lead to potentially detrimental neurological damage in foetal who are exposed during pregnancy (Drevnick et al., 2015) and residual Mercury effects will still be detectable well into their adolescence years (Weihe & Debes Joensen, 2012).
Let us hear the Faroese people’s thoughts about the Mercury loaded pilot whales.
source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYOTkwFhe-w
Tradition over Health?
The video above illuminates issues of the Faroese pilot whaling tradition, environmental sustainability of whaling, and health problems from the consumption of whale meat. This controversial topic sparked debate as to whether should the Grind be allowed to continue. The activist group, known as the Sea Shepherd descends upon the Faroe Islands to actively campaign for the abolishment of the ancient old tradition of hunting pilot whales for food.
“For every gram of whale meat, it was reported that 2 micrograms of Methylmercury are present” – Dr. Pal Weihe
The study by Weihe & Debes Joensen (2012) strongly recommends that pilot whales should no longer be used for consumption due to its adverse health effects. However, the Faroese people consider whaling as an important part of their tradition and history which dates back to 1709. In addition, the Faroe Island is largely surrounded by the sea. Due to its geographical and climate-based limitations, people rely heavily on the sea for food and the Grind is never commercial. Therefore, despite scientists’ warnings of the harmful effects of consuming whale meat, a large majority of the Faroese people still choose to protect their tradition and the Grind continues.
Comment and let us know. Are you for health or for tradition? 😀
Cheers,
Shee Wen & Nicole 
References
Drevnick, P.E., Lamborg, C.H. & Horgan, M.J. (2015), “Increase in mercury in Pacific yellowfin tuna”, Environmental toxicology and chemistry, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 931-934.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Mercury Emissions: The Global Context. Retrieved October 02, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/mercury-emissions-global-context
Siegel, F. R. (2013). Environmental geochemistry of potentially toxic metals. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin / Heidelberg.
Wang, K., Munson, K.M., Beaupré-Laperrière, A., Mucci, A., Macdonald, R.W. & Wang, F. (2018), “Subsurface seawater methylmercury maximum explains biotic mercury concentrations in the Canadian Arctic”, Scientific reports, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 14465-5.
Weihe, P. & Debes Joensen, H. (2012), “Dietary recommendations regarding pilot whale meat and blubber in the Faroe Islands”, International journal of circumpolar health, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 18594.