Contaminated dolphins being ingested.

• Position: Mercury Poisoning

Due to its mass capture and slaughter of mercury-contaminated dolphins and pilot whales, for human consumption and to supply the captive marine mammal aquaria industry, Talji, Japan, has been a target of international criticism for many years. Evidence presented in the Academy Award-winning film "The Cove" and in a study by University of Hokkaido professor Tetsuya Endo reveals that Talji residents have 10 times higher mercury levels than other Japanese citizens.

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Despite this evidence, Japanese researchers with the National Institute for Minamata Disease claim that there is no cause for alarm since they have not yet found any cases of neurological methylmercury toxicity. In Defense of Animals, San Rafael, Calif.--founding member of the Save Japan Dolphin Campaign upon which "The Cove" is based--along with concerned scientists, community groups, and animal protection organizations, point out significant fundamental flaws in the NIMD conclusions presented to the public.

First, infants and young children were not adequately tested for neural development disorders, learning disabilities, or IQ...