The Risk of Mercury!!!

What You Don't Know About Your Fish

• Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury.
• The risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern but if consumed in higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system.
• The level of mercury in the blood system depends on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish.

Eat This Not That

• Do not eat: Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, and Tilefish. These contain high amounts of mercury.
• The maximum amount of fish you should eat is 2 meals worth
• Low in mercury: Tuna, shrimp and catfish.

What is mercury and methylmercury?
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans and is turned into methylmercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to your unborn baby and young child. Fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters and so it builds up in them. It builds up more in some types of fish and shellfish than others, depending on what the fish eat, which is why the levels vary. source: fda.gov

Natural Causes of Mercury

• Natural sources of mercury include volcanoes, forest fires, cannabar (ore) and fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.

Anthropgenic Causes of Mercury

• Levels of mercury in the environment are increasing due to discharge from hydroelectric, mining, pulp, and paper industries. Incineration of municipal and medical waste and emissions from coal-using power plants also contribute to high levels of mercury.

mercury brochure