Name: Hidden toxins in the fish we eat
Uploaded: 2010-06-30T09:11:00Z
Duration: 15 min 26 s
Description: What's link between the ocean's health and our health? Marine biologist Stephen Palumbi shows how toxins at the bottom of the ocean food chain find their way into our bodies -- and tells a shocking story of toxic contamination in the fish market, where consumers were being tricked into buying fish that's not only mislabeled but unsafe.

Stephen Palumbi: Hidden toxins in the fish we eat

Hidden toxins in the fish we eat

What's link between the ocean's health and our health? Marine biologist Stephen Palumbi shows how toxins at the bottom of the ocean food chain find their way into our bodies -- and tells a shocking story of toxic contamination in the fish market, where consumers were being tricked into buying fish that's not only mislabeled but unsafe.

The health of the ocean directly shapes human health, as toxins like PCBs and heavy metals move up the food pyramid and accumulate in top predators, including people. In one striking case, mislabeled dolphin meat with dangerous toxin levels was sold as whale meat in Tokyo, exposing consumers to hundreds of times the safe limit. Polluted seas also trigger harmful algal blooms and bacteria outbreaks that close beaches and cause disease. Cleaning up ocean ecosystems not only revives marine life but also safeguards communities from invisible, long-lasting harm.