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 Consumption of Fish and Methyl Mercury:

Among humans, the sole source of exposure to methyl mercury is the consumption of fish and sea mammals.

Mercury is released in the air through industrial pollution. The Mercury falls from the air and accumulates in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes that transform the mercury into methylmercury. It is this type of mercury that is harmful to unborn babies and young children. Fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters. (1)

On 19 March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a fish consumption warning to help women of childbearing age avoid unsafe levels of mercury. Although the new warning is a definite improvement over previous advisories (it better identifies the fish species that are most contaminated and those that are not, and pays particular attention to tuna), it still does not warn consumers about eating some of the most highly contaminated fish, such as grouper and orange roughy.

The FDA warning: "Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish"

Some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish.

In a summary, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration made the following recommendations:

  1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

  2. Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

    1. Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

    2. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

  3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

The FDA warning includes a reminder that fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good health. Omega-3 is a type of polyunsaturated fat that helps to maintain a healthy heart. It also helps to keep joints supple and is a vital building block for the brain. The reader should be aware that omega-3 fatty acids are not only found in fish, but are also found in flaxseed oil, and in the eggs of hens that consume these seeds as a part of a vegan diet.

In the 1950s, when pregnant women in Minimata Bay, Japan, ingested fish with high levels of methylmercury, the result was at least 30 cases of infantile cerebral palsy (Klaassen 1996).

Note: You can request a blood mercury test from your physician. Women with a high blood mercury level who are planning to start a family may decide to postpone pregnancy for a few months until levels drop; often this occurs over a three to six month time.

REFERENCES

12004 EPA and FDA Advice For: Women Who Might Become Pregnant Women Who are Pregnant Nursing Mothers Young Children.
EPA-823-R-04-005
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