6 days a week

Saturday, August 28, 2010

6 days a week

Eating sure is good.  However, did you know that a lot of sea food contains high levels of mercury?


The complexities associated with mercury transport and environmental fate are described by USEPA in their 1997 Mercury Study Report to Congress. Because methylmercury and high levels of elemental mercury can be particularly toxic to a fetus or young children, organizations such as the U.S. EPA and FDA recommend that women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant within the next one or two years, as well as young children avoid eating more than 6 ounces (one average meal) of fish per week.
In the United States, the FDA has an action level for methylmercury in commercial marine and freshwater fish that is 1.0 parts per million (ppm). In Canada, the limit for the total of mercury content is 0.5 ppm. The Got Mercury? website includes a calculator for determining mercury levels in fish.
Species with characteristically low levels of mercury include shrimptilapiasalmonpollock, and catfish (FDA March 2004). The FDA characterizes shrimp, catfish, pollock, salmon, sardines, and canned light tuna as low-mercury seafood, although recent tests have indicated that up to 6 percent of canned light tuna may contain high levels. A study published in 2008 found that mercury distribution in tuna meat is inversely related to the lipid content, suggesting that the lipid concentration within edible tuna tissues has a diluting effect on mercury content. These findings suggest that choosing to consume a type of tuna that has a relatively higher natural fat content may help reduce the amount of mercury intake, compared to consuming tuna with a low fat content. Also, many of the fish chosen for sushi contain high levels of mercury.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish shall not be a health concern for most people. However, certain seafood might contain levels of mercury to harm an unborn baby (and especially its brain development and nervous system) or in cases of young child's interfere with the development of the nervous system. The FDA provides three recommendations for young children, pregnant women, and women of child-bearing age:
  1. Do not eat sharkswordfishking mackerel, or tilefish because they might 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. Five of the most commonly eaten fish and shellfish that are low in mercury are: shrimpcanned light tunasalmonpollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore or big eye tuna ("white") tuna depending on its origin might have more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, it is recommended that you should not eat more than 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 consume no other fish during that week.
These recommendations should be are considered when feeding fish and shellfish to young children, but in proportionally smaller and controlled quantities.

32 comments:

  1. Like your blog so far. Some really eye-opening stuff!

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  2. That is actually quite amazing... I think my mind just exploded...

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    Check out my blog I have science related items that will also blow your mind!

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  4. I eat too much tuna apparently, i'll watch out from now on!

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  5. awesome!

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  6. forgot to say m8 if your interested check my blog out aswell!

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  7. Can't be too careful with what you eat but tese days just about every either contains something naturally or is laced with somethign even worse.

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  8. I've died 20 times up to this date.

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  9. I'm loving this blog. Spread some love around !

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  10. awesome bro be sure to follow me as well http://theinternetfiesta.blogspot.com/

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  11. Solid Info. Glad to know most of my Sushi eating habits are on the healthier end of the mercury scale.

    Thanks for checking out my blog!

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  12. http://jimbodian.blogspot.com/

    I can dig it

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  13. Very nice blog you're setting up here, if you feel like you can check mine out as well, it's all over but I'm trying to focus D:

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  14. damn this is why i dont like fish. cows ftw.
    clicky clicky

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  15. Tuna's too good to pass up! Haha.
    Liking the blog bro, follow mine if you want :)

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  16. good info i followed you hoping you post some more interesting stoof check mine if you are into fantasy literature

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  17. love the blog im following you please follow me
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  18. Mercury hmmm, so good. specially, with cake

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  19. I'm more of a Mercury and Coke guy myself. But then, Coke mixes well with everything.

    Checkin urs while ur checkin mine?

    http://cyekat.blogspot.com

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  20. Good think I don't eat fish....

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  21. why do fish have mercury in them?

    http://viperman240.blogspot.com/

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  22. Good stuff!

    Follow for creepy.

    http://originalrealise.blogspot.com/

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  23. Cool stuff.

    Follow me too. You follow, I follow.

    http://phitterandthitter.blogspot.com/

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  24. I hate how most people are just blowing over the whole mercury scare
    ps don't forget to check my blog for frequent updates
    http://puppycomputers.blogspot.com

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  25. I've hearda bout this. Scary stuff, I love eating tunafish. ):

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  26. Great article. Following.
    http://canislupust7w.blogspot.com

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  27. i love tunafish! maybe i should switch to mcdonalds to save the the pain

    http://yummypho.blogspot.com/

    Thanks /b/ro!

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  28. i proudly eat 7 days a week... unless i forget to, LOL!

    http://adpluscommunications.blogspot.com/

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