Conservation groups have spent the last few years fighting to make sure that FDA warnings about mercury are actually shared with consumers — and we’re starting to have some real success getting the message out. Many consumers, especially expecting mothers, now know about these warnings and are closely monitoring which — and how much — seafood they eat in a given week to avoid mercury contamination. But as The New York Times reports, a recent study shows that mercury has spread further than previously thought.

This “eye-opening” study tested songbirds in New York and found that every one had elevated levels of mercury — meaning that mercury is now literally finding its way into our back yards.

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