science environment

Women Are Consuming Less Mercury In Their Fish

By Toni Tabora-Roberts (OPB)
Nov. 21, 2013 9:45 p.m.
Blood mercury levels in women are down. EPA says fish advisories have helped women choose fish more wisely. Catfish and salmon are examples of low-mercury fish

Blood mercury levels in women are down. EPA says fish advisories have helped women choose fish more wisely. Catfish and salmon are examples of low-mercury fish

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A new EPA study shows that blood mercury levels in women of childbearing age dropped 34 percent between a survey done in 1999-2000 and follow up surveys conducted in 2001-2010. Fish consumption levels changed little during the full survey period and blood mercury levels changed little during the 2001-2010.

So what caused the drop starting in 2001?

Betsy Southerland, director of the Office of Science and Technology for the EPA's Office of Water, told NBC News that a public outreach campaign succeeded in getting the message out.

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In 2001, the EPA and the FDA jointly put out a national fish advisory to women of childbearing age, saying here's what to avoid, but we still encourage you to eat fish because it's really healthy," Southerland said.

According to an EPA press release, the agencies did extensive outreach in 2001 and 2004, even translating materials into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian and Hmong.

Here's a quick primer on mercury poisoning. Most of the exposure we get is through the organic compound methylmercury. That's what's found in fish. High levels of methylmercury intake can cause serious health problems like neurological impairment for fetuses and young children who are exposed through the womb. (Lots more information on health effects from mercury exposure here.)

The toxic methylmercury in fish is caused by air and water pollution. To address this, the EPA has issued the Mercury and Air Toxics rule which sets standards for limiting mercury emissions from power plants. They are also working to establish new effluent rules for steam electric power plants which, according to the EPA's website, "contribute over half of all toxic pollutants discharged to surface waters by all industrial categories currently regulated in the United States."

Here’s what the EPA and FDA advise for fish consumption:

  • Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they have high levels of mercury.
  • Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) per week of a variety of fish and shellfish low in mercury.
  • Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
  • Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
  • Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught in local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish caught from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.
  • Follow these same recommendations for young children, but serve smaller portions.

-- Toni Tabora-Roberts

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