The answer is yes. And celebrities can prove it.
According to People magazine, Jeremy Piven is just one famous face that can be associated with mercury poisoning. In 2008, Piven’s doctor pulled him out of a Broadway show due to the health issue, which Piven developed as a result of ample amounts of both sushi and Chinese herbs. Testing showed that his mercury levels exceeded the normal amount six-fold.
Elevated mercury levels also afflicted actress Daphne Zuniga. When doctors didn’t know what was causing her to feel dizzy and forget her lines, she suggested the possibility of mercury poisoning. And sure enough, she had higher-than-normal levels of mercury.
Mercury Rising?
According to Live Science, mercury is a naturally occurring element, and it can be found in three different forms: elemental, inorganic and organic.
"Human activities like coal burning, gold mining and chloralkali manufacturing plants currently contribute the vast majority of the mercury released into our environment," Dr. Anne M. Davis, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics director at the Didactic Program in Dietetics of the University of New Haven, tells Live Science.
The problem is that mercury can pose a threat to health when it finds its way to water sources. The fish that people eat consume mercury, then it is passed on to humans. Consequently, experts say 80 to 90 percent of organic mercury found in humans can be attributed to eating seafood.
And some environmental factors contribute to this health issue. According to Eco Watch, mercury that is considered the most dangerous is called methylmercury. And at one time, industrial facilities contributed to this issue by dumping methylmercury into water sources.