Eating seafood containing high amounts of methyl mercury may cause infertility in men and women, according to a new study conducted by Chinese researchers in Hong Kong. As part of the study, published in next month's issue of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong compared mercury levels in 157 infertile couples and 26 fertile couples.

Thirty-five percent of the men and 23 percent of the women in the infertile group had unusually high mercury levels in their blood, compared to just 15 percent of the men and 3.8 percent of the women in the fertile group. A majority of the men and women in the infertile group admitted to consuming higher seafood amounts, which scientists say may have caused the unusual blood mercury levels.