Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Chemical Month | Mercury

Canned tuna is America's favorite source of fish. It is also a source of mercury, which is not good

[Editor's note: March is "Chemical Month" on 13.7 Billion Years. From the neurotransmitters in our brains to the pesticides on our produce, from toxic substances found in most households to disease-preventing antioxidants, chemicals are both critical and dangerous to life on Earth. Each weekday this month, 13.7 Billion Years takes a look at a general chemical-based issue or a specific chemical from the vast laboratory of our daily lives.]

U.S. federal guidelines allow up to 12 ounces of canned light tuna and up to 6 ounces of white tuna per week for younger women and children, but the non-profit advocacy group Consumers Union says that doesn't go far enough.

"Canned tuna, especially white, tends to be high in mercury, and younger women and children should limit how much they eat. As a precaution, pregnant women should avoid tuna entirely," said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, director of technical policy at Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports.

Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal that has been shown to impair nervous system development in fetuses. Mercury poisoning can cause several diseases, such as Hunter-Russell syndrome, acrodynia and Minimata disease, as well as damage to the brain, lungs and kidney.

Fish consumption is the most common cause of mercury exposure in humans. A University of Hokkaido test of whale meat (which is illegal) purchased in the whaling town of Taiji found mercury levels more than 20 times the acceptable standard in Japan.

"Some studies have linked even low-level mercury exposure in pregnant women and young children to subtle impairments in hearing, hand-eye coordination, and learning ability," according to Food Safety News.

The FDA and EPA advise pregnant women to avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish as well.

Seafood is a source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. However, this nutrient can be accessed without eating fish. Omega-3 is present in flaxseed, hempseed, canola oil, and walnuts, and can be converted into useful forms by the additional consumption of protein, pyroxidine (vitamin B6), biotin (B7), calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc.

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RELATED POSTS
13.7 BILLION YEARS 2011 CALENDAR
URGENT ACTION ALERTS
  • Help Japan
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  • Sign the Humane Society 2011 Boycott to Save Seals
  • Sign for stronger animal welfare laws in India
  • Tell Walmart and Supervalu to stop selling endangered fish
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  • Sign to stop abuse of New York City carriage horses
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  • Sign to support H.R. 835 Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act
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Also on 13.7 Billion Years: "Reports from 2050," a series of imagined reports from the year 2050, supported by current news, recent discoveries and scientific predictions.

image: michele_brl
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