And why should it be avoided? But human activities have increased total mercury concentrations in the atmosphere by about percent above natural levels — to dangerous levels for humans if it ends up in their systems in the wrong way.
Of the sources of human-caused, or anthropogenic, mercury emissions, the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gold mining are the most to blame. Once the mercury is in the atmosphere, it can travel for thousands of miles and will eventually make its way into the ocean or large bodies of water, either by being deposited there or on land and getting washed downstream.
In this form, mercury poses little danger because living things can get rid of it quickly. The food chain takes it from there, with methylmercury getting absorbed by phytoplankton microscopic marine algae , which are gobbled up by zooplankton tiny marine animals , which are then feasted upon by small fish.
These small fish and organisms are eaten by bigger fish who are then eaten by even bigger fish, and on and on. The methylmercury is absorbed by the bigger animal, and — since the bigger the fish, the longer it lives and the more it eats — larger fish species accumulate a lot more methylmercury in their body. A study in Brazilian adults found that higher levels of mercury in hair were associated with a decrease in fine motor skills, dexterity, memory, and attention One study in 1, men found that those with the highest levels of mercury were twice as likely to die from heart-related problems than men with lower levels Nevertheless, the nutritional benefits of fish likely outweigh the risks from mercury exposure — as long as you moderate your consumption of high-mercury fish Higher levels of mercury can harm brain function and heart health.
However, the health benefits of eating fish may outweigh these risks as long as you limit your intake of high-mercury fish. Mercury in fish does not affect everyone in the same way. Therefore, certain people should take extra care. At-risk populations include women who are or may become pregnant , breastfeeding mothers, and young children. One animal study revealed that exposure to even low doses of methylmercury during the first 10 days of conception impaired brain function in adult mice Another study indicated that children exposed to mercury while in the womb struggled with attention, memory, language, and motor function 27 , Additionally, some studies suggest that certain ethnic groups — including Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders — have a greater risk of mercury exposure due to diets traditionally high in fish Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, young children, and those who regularly consume large amounts of fish have a higher risk of problems related to mercury exposure.
Fish are an important source of omega-3 fatty acids and provide multiple other benefits. In fact, it is generally recommended that most people eat at least two servings of fish per week. However, the Food and Drug Administration FDA advises people at high risk of mercury toxicity — such as pregnant or breastfeeding women — to keep the following recommendations in mind 30 :. Following these tips will help you maximize the benefits of eating fish while minimizing your risks of mercury exposure.
This is a detailed article about the health benefits of fish. Well, there are huge nutritional benefits from eating fish as many are a great source of high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, phosphorous, iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, potassium, vitamins D and B2, and many other important nutrients.
In fact, the U. Department of Health and Human Services and the U. So, a good balance of eating the right types of fish is the key. How can you do this? To do this there are some. You can also look at the types of fish that in general have lower and higher levels of mercury in them, and limit eating the higher mercury types.
Does drinking boiled lettuce really help you sleep? U S Food and Drug Administration. Greenfield N. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFit. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Risks of Mercury. Mercury Levels in Fish. Low-Mercury Fish. Moderate-Mercury Fish. High-Mercury Fish.
Fish to Avoid. Fish Nutrition Facts. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Methylmercury poisoning. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Public Health Statement for Mercury.
0コメント