Martin County health officials are planning a follow-up to a 2010 study that found elevated levels of mercury in Florida women.
According to a statement, the Florida Department of Healthin Martin County will seek hair samples from volunteers over the next few months.
Martin County participated in the 2010 study funded by a grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials say a quarter of the women surveyed then showed elevated levels of mercury.
Health officials say most elevated mercury levels in humans are caused by eating fish that have high levels of the metal.
Mercury can damage the nervous systems of developing fetuses and young children. Health officials say mercury levels can be reduced when people avoid eating shark, tuna, marlin, king mackerel, Chilean sea bass and swordfish.
