The article “High Levels of Mercury Are Found in Californians” (Los Angeles Times, Feb ru ary 9, 2006)

describes a study in which hair samples were tested for mercury. The hair samples were obtained from more than 6000 people who voluntarily sent hair samples to researchers at Greenpeace and The Sierra Club. The researchers found that nearly one-third of those tested had mercury levels that exceeded the concentration thought to be safe. Is it reasonable to generalize this result to the larger population of U.S. adults? Explain why or why not.