Final answer:
Sulfur is related to the methylmercury in fish through biogeochemical cycles, which transform inorganic mercury into toxic methylmercury. This transformation can lead to higher levels of mercury in certain fish species, indirectly impacting human health through consumption. Sulfur itself does not directly alter the toxicity of methylmercury.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between sulfur and methylmercury in fish is connected through biogeochemical cycles. In the environment, sulfur can take part in the process that converts inorganic mercury from natural sources, like coal, into the more toxic form of mercury known as methylmercury. This process occurs as a result of biological activities in water bodies. Once methylmercury is formed, it accumulates in fish, particularly in long-living, predatory species through a process known as biomagnification. The mercury levels in fish are a concern for human health, particularly for sensitive populations like pregnant women and young children. Hence, the EPA recommends a diet low in mercury, advising against high mercury fish such as swordfish and king mackerel and encouraging consumption of lower mercury options like salmon and tilapia.
Interestingly, sulfur itself does not directly alter the toxicity of methylmercury to humans through seafood consumption. However, the involvement of sulfur in the environmental cycling and transformation of mercury underlines the complexity of how ecosystems can influence the food we eat and our health.