Fish Containing High Levels Of Mercury

Eat up to 12 ounces 2 average meals a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are.

Fish containing high levels of mercury.

Fish that contain high levels of mercury include shark orange roughy swordfish and ling. Fish is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. However some fish may contain mercury or other harmful chemicals at sufficiently high levels to be a concern. The concern over this issue hovers over the otherwise positive benefits of eating seafood.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air water and food. The unborn baby is most sensitive to the effects of mercury particularly during the third and fourth months of gestation. They are a lean low calorie source of protein. However some types of fish can contain high levels of mercury.

Here are some low mercury fish choices and fish to avoid. Federal state and local governments issue fish consumption advisories when fish are unsafe to eat. The risk of mercury poisoning is real if you eat a lot of fish especially fish that have a high concentration of mercury. Most state s game and fish departments publish not only the list of fish advisories consumption bans and cautions but also locations and areas that are prone to exhibit higher levels of toxins in fish both offshore and inshore and what specifically those toxins are which include dioxins mercury and pcbs.

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. Swordfish 147 micrograms of mercury. But nearly all fish contain at least a trace amount of mercury. Mackerel king 110 micrograms of mercury.

Before shopping for seafood familiarize yourself with the levels of mercury in fish. Shark 151 micrograms of mercury. That s because it s a great source of protein micronutrients and healthy fats. Do not eat shark swordfish king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

Fish and shellfish concentrate mercury in their bodies often in the form of methylmercury a highly toxic organomercury compound. Fish are important in a healthy diet. Tilefish gulf of mexico containing a whopping average 219 micrograms of mercury the tilefish native to the gulf of mexico tops the list of mercury tainted seafood.