kimpossible
10-18-2005, 01:07 PM
Be careful of certain types of fish during pregnancy. Some are higher in mercury than others.
Does mercury exposure pose a risk in pregnancy?
Mercury is another metal that is present naturally in the environment. Pregnant women are most often exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. Mercury enters the environment from natural and man-made sources (such as coal-burning or other industrial pollution). It is converted by bacteria to a more dangerous form (methylmercury) that accumulates in the fatty tissues of fish. While trace amounts of mercury are present in many types of fish, mercury is most concentrated in large fish that eat other fish, such as swordfish and sharks.
In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made three recommendations for women who might become pregnant, women who are pregnant and nursing mothers. By following these recommendations, women can get the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.
1. Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
2. Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower 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. When choosing two meals of fish and shellfish, women may eat 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 local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, women may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish caught from local waters, but they should not consume any other fish during that week.
Game fish also may be contaminated with other industrial pollutants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls); a pregnant woman’s exposure to PCBs may contribute to a child’s learning problems, reduced IQ and low birthweight. Pregnant women or women who could become pregnant should not consume any game fish without checking with their state or local health department or the EPA to find out which fish are safe to eat.
Does mercury exposure pose a risk in pregnancy?
Mercury is another metal that is present naturally in the environment. Pregnant women are most often exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. Mercury enters the environment from natural and man-made sources (such as coal-burning or other industrial pollution). It is converted by bacteria to a more dangerous form (methylmercury) that accumulates in the fatty tissues of fish. While trace amounts of mercury are present in many types of fish, mercury is most concentrated in large fish that eat other fish, such as swordfish and sharks.
In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made three recommendations for women who might become pregnant, women who are pregnant and nursing mothers. By following these recommendations, women can get the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.
1. Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
2. Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower 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. When choosing two meals of fish and shellfish, women may eat 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 local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, women may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish caught from local waters, but they should not consume any other fish during that week.
Game fish also may be contaminated with other industrial pollutants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls); a pregnant woman’s exposure to PCBs may contribute to a child’s learning problems, reduced IQ and low birthweight. Pregnant women or women who could become pregnant should not consume any game fish without checking with their state or local health department or the EPA to find out which fish are safe to eat.