EPA Study: Mercury Levels in Women of
Childbearing Age Drop 34 Percent
Data suggest women making more informed
seafood choices
WASHINGTON
— Today the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a study showing that
blood mercury levels in women of childbearing age dropped 34 percent
from a survey conducted in 1999-2000 to follow-up surveys conducted from
2001 to 2010. Additionally, the percentage of women of childbearing age
with blood mercury levels above the level of concern decreased 65
percent from the 1999-2000 survey and the follow-up surveys from
2001-2010.
During the survey period there was very little change in the amount of
fish consumed. The decrease in the ratio of mercury intake to fish
consumed suggests that women may have shifted to eating types of fish
with lower mercury concentrations.
For the peer-reviewed study, Trends in Blood Mercury Concentrations
and Fish Consumption among U.S. Women of Childbearing Age, NHANES
(1999-2010), EPA analyzed measurements of blood mercury levels from
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey. EPA found that blood methylmercury
concentrations in women of childbearing age in the first survey cycle
(1999-2000) were 1.5 times higher than the average concentration of the
five subsequent cycles (2001-2010). The average of blood mercury
concentrations changed only slightly from 2001 to 2010, and remained
below levels of concern for health.
EPA’s study provides a nationwide
perspective on trends in mercury levels based mostly on consumption of
ocean fish. It does not reflect trends in mercury levels in communities
that depend on locally caught fish for subsistence. EPA and states
recommend that people check local advisories before eating fish caught
from local waterways.
Fish and
shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet because they are a
source of high-quality protein, many vitamins and minerals, omega-3
fatty acids, and are mostly low in saturated fat. A well-balanced diet
that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can be beneficial for
heart health and children's proper growth and development.
However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For
most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a
health concern. Yet, 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 depend on the amount of fish and
shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish.
EPA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advise women who may
become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to
avoid some types of fish and to eat fish and shellfish that are low in
mercury for the health benefits and to reduce exposure to mercury.
EPA and FDA advise:
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Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they
have high levels of mercury.
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Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) per week of a variety of fish
and shellfish low in mercury.
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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.
EPA and the FDA issued
national mercury advisories on fish consumption in 2001 and 2004. The
agency conducted an extensive national outreach campaign, including
distributing millions of advisory brochures; translating information
into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian and
Hmong; and providing materials to more than 150,000 doctors and
healthcare professionals. EPA has also worked closely with state and
tribal partners on developing and communicating risk and benefit
messages related to consuming fish.
In 2013 EPA took two significant actions toward making fish and
shellfish safer to eat. In June, the agency proposed new effluent
guidelines for steam electric power plants, which currently account for
more than half of all toxic pollutants discharged into streams, rivers
and lakes from industrial facilities in the U.S. In April, EPA issued
the new Mercury and Air Toxics rule, which sets emissions limitation
standards for mercury emitted from power plants. Compliance with this
rule may take up to four years.
More information:
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/technical.cfm#tabs-4
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