The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) all recommend that people monitor the amount of fish they eat to avoid consuming toxic levels of mercury. In conjunction, these groups propose that the average person should eat no more than 12 ounces of fish or shellfish per week. They have classified the levels of mercury found in the flesh of fish, measured in parts per million (ppm) of mercury. The categories they created are: Least Mercury - less than 0.09 ppm, Moderate Mercury - 0.09 to 0.29 ppm, High Mercury - 0.3 to 0.49 ppm, and Highest Mercury - levels over 0.5 ppm. The FDA and the EPA have utilized this classification system to recommend certain types of fish with lesser mercury content, as well as suggesting safer portion sizes. For example, albacore tuna contains twice as much mercury than canned light tuna. For this reason, the EPA states that no more than six ounces of albacore tuna should be eaten a week.
High levels of mercury can result in health complications of the nervous system, especially in fetuses and children, and therefore fish consumption should be closely monitored in these individuals. Fetuses are at the highest risk for birth defects as a result of mercury exposure. There are many factors that determine how much fish a certain individual can eat and still be considered within non-toxic limits. These factors include age and health of the exposed person, dose and chemical form of mercury, duration, and route of the exposure. A person weighing 170 pounds can tolerate fish with higher levels of mercury than an 80 pound adolescent.
References:
High levels of mercury can result in health complications of the nervous system, especially in fetuses and children, and therefore fish consumption should be closely monitored in these individuals. Fetuses are at the highest risk for birth defects as a result of mercury exposure. There are many factors that determine how much fish a certain individual can eat and still be considered within non-toxic limits. These factors include age and health of the exposed person, dose and chemical form of mercury, duration, and route of the exposure. A person weighing 170 pounds can tolerate fish with higher levels of mercury than an 80 pound adolescent.
References:
- http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/calculator/calc.asp
- http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp
- http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/walletcard.pdf
- http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm110591.htm
- http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp
- http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm#meth
- http://www.epa.gov/mercury/advisories.htm
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