A 44-year-old member asked:
is mercury in fish really an issue or just leftwing conspiracy?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Douglas Fronzaglia ii, do, ms answered
Geriatrics 21 years experience
Mercury...: It poisonous to the human body. Mercury levels in various foods will accumulate in the body and can cause harm. I don't know about a conspiracy but everything political seems to have some other motivations.
5772 views
Dr. Arthur Heller answered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Can be an issue: Definitely more of an issue if pregnant or small child (developing nervous system). Little fish: little mercury. Big fish eat little fish and thus accumulate it. Not an issue for farmed fish (other issues for that). Eat small fish like sardines, herring, mackeral, salmon. Chunk light tuna is made from smaller fish than albacore so less mercury than solid white generally if you are eating canned.
5754 views
Dr. Ed Friedlander answered
Pathology 44 years experience
Politics involved: Nobody questions that methylmercury accumulates in the food chain and that high doses it's neurotoxic, especially to the unborn child. Since nobody really has a clue about how this operates at very low doses, and there's not a shred of evidence of an effect on any population outside of two incredibly polluted sites, the EPA's required "recommendation" was something folks would accept easily.
3371 views
1 comment
Dr. Ed Friedlander commented
Pathology 44 years experience
Provided original answer
You may enjoy reading about a screwball RIGHT-wing claim a few years back, involving the new spirally light bulbs being a dangerous source of mercury for consumers. This was promoted by the major far-right news organization.
Dec 30, 2014
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Similar questions
A 32-year-old member asked:
Has there been any widespread documented health problems related to mercury in fish?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singh answered
Pathology 49 years experience
Japan: An epidemic of neurologic disorders in children in minamata, japan was traced to consumption of fish containing high levels for mercury from industrial discharge.
5802 views
A 43-year-old member asked:
I am curious about mercury in fish. Is fish good for you or not?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Michael Fisher answered
Dermatology 32 years experience
Mercury in fish: Some fish, however, contain high amounts of mercury -- enough to damage a fetus or newborn. That is why pregnant and nursing mothers must be very careful about the amounts and types of fish they eat. Young children should also avoid eating fish high in mercury. According to the fda, pregnant women and small children (under 6) should not eat more than 2 servings of fish each week.
5804 views
A 39-year-old member asked:
Is there a way to reduce the amount of mercury in fish?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sarah Kohl answered
Travel Medicine 35 years experience
Can't remove mercury: Mercury increases throughout the food chain and is in largest concentrations in carnivorous fish. ('bioaccumulation') the mercury is in the flesh of the fish and cannot be removed through any process. It is best to avoid consumption of certain species known to have high levels of mercury. See http://water.Epa.Gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/outreach/advice_index.Cfm for more details.
5754 views
A 29-year-old member asked:
Mercury in fish, why is it so bad for you? Should we never eat fish?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Michael Fisher answered
Dermatology 32 years experience
Mercury in fish: Some fish, however, contain high amounts of mercury -- enough to damage a fetus or newborn. That is why pregnant and nursing mothers must be very careful about the amounts and types of fish they eat. Young children should also avoid eating fish high in mercury. According to the fda, pregnant women and small children (under 6) should not eat more than 2 servings of fish each week.
5804 views
A 45-year-old member asked:
Why is mercury in fish on the rise?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joseph Woods answered
Pathology 28 years experience
Likely pollutants.: Because of the chemical wastes dumped into rivers and lakes, etc. For many decades, there is more mercury in fish. Also, there are many more fishing vessels catching more fish in the world, so there is more exposure to mercury. Still anotyer reason is due to fish at the top of the food chain eating others and concentrating mercury in them.
5740 views
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Last updated Jan 12, 2020
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