Does Fish Contain High Levels Of Mercury
The table is sorted by mercury concentration mean ppm from fish with lowest levels of mercury to highest levels of mercury.
Does fish contain high levels of mercury. Remember the younger and smaller the fish the safer since the amount of mercury increases every time a larger fish eats a small fish. These figures are measured in micrograms of mercury per 4 ounces of. Some fish however contain high amounts of mercury enough to damage a fetus or newborn. Fish products have been shown to contain varying amounts of heavy metals particularly mercury and fat soluble pollutants from water pollution species of fish that are long lived and high on the food chain such as marlin tuna shark swordfish king mackerel and.
For most people the small amounts in fish do not pose a health problem. Opt for organic farm raised seafood that contains lesser amounts of mercury such as wild alaskan salmon eel crab shrimp and catfish. Mercury levels in fish. But nearly all fish contain at least a trace amount of mercury.
All fish contain trace amounts of mercury. Eat up to 12 ounces 2 average meals a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are. Ideally all seafood contains mercury. Some of the fish and seafood with high mercury levels include.
Species chart and information. You may also sort the table by species in alphabetical order. Shark swordfish tilefish king mackerel. List of low and high mercury concentration levels in fish includes chart of fish species safe and not safe for pregnant women and the public to eat.
However some seafood has high levels of mercury while some have minute levels. That is why pregnant and nursing mothers must be very careful about the amounts and types of fish they eat. Fish and shellfish concentrate mercury in their bodies often in the form of methylmercury a highly toxic organomercury compound. Do not eat shark swordfish king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
Fish is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. However some types of fish can contain high levels of mercury. The risk of mercury poisoning is real if you eat a lot of fish especially fish that have a high concentration of mercury. 2020 06 08 synopsis and key points.