Mercury in Fish 1.45 Mb - Arnika

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Mercury in Fish only be determined by focused research, but it is virtually certain, given the underlying patterns high-mercury species, that some adverse health impacts on consumers are occurring. The situation in India is unusual in several respects, but is clearly the most severe. The test data presented here suggest that nearly average mercury content of 0.5 mg/kg or higher. In a few cases, such as grouper and sea bass, the mercury levels found are consistent with other published data. 37 However, most aquaculture varieties or commonly caught freshwater, estuarine or marine species, are not well represented in published databases determine whether the reported mercury levels are consistent with expectations for those of aquatic environments of West Bengal with mercury. Another possibility should also be acknowledged, and if possible, ruled out. While we have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the test data used here, we strongly urge that the Taking the data in Appendix C and Table 1 at face value, the average consumer in West with average mercury levels detected in levels. The situation is even worse for nonaverage consumers: Those who eat far more the most contaminated areas; those who like average mercury levels; or children, who get greater mercury doses due to their smaller body consumption and elevated mercury levels in an enormous scale, and the situation demands to be urgently addressed. Mercury Policy Project Page 18 The situations of the Arctic populations are special cases that each involve substantial risks of excessive methylmercury exposure. The Faroese, of course, are known for high methylmercury exposure, and the health consequences of that exposure have been measured and continue to be measured. data presented here reinforce the important contributions of pilot whale meat to exposure and risk. Inuit populations span four countries going east from Northeastern Russia all the way to Greenland in the Atlantic Ocean, and an equally wide range of habitats, food sources, and dietary patterns. It is not especially feasible to summarize such diversity, and the data for mercury in predatory marine mammals, cited here, represent a small fraction of the information available from extensive, ongoing studies of these populations. 38 As noted, Inuit methylmercury exposure may be declining, but the data presented here show that a traditional Inuit diet can under some conditions still include high doses of methylmercury, from whale meat in particular. maternal blood mercury level that is likely to be safe for fetal exposure. As maternal blood mercury rises above 3.5 µg/l, concern about possible toxic effects of prenatal exposure increases. 39 The mean blood mercury level among women of childbearing age in the US is about 1.0 µg/l, and about 10 percent of US women have levels above 3.5 µg/l. 40 A 2006 survey of 100 Inuit women found their average blood mercury level was 4.013 µg/l, with a range from 0.522 to 28.08 µg/l. 41 A 1999-2005 study in Greenland, where the Inuit diet contains greater amounts of marine mammals, found an average blood mercury level of 23.08 µg/l in women, and 34.81 µg/l in men. 42
Page 19 Mercury Policy Project Mercury in Fish of the population exceeds the EPA reference level by a wide margin. While exposure was lower in the 2006 study than in a baseline survey done in 1996, methylmercury exposure among the Inuit is clearly still unacceptably high. The risk of prenatal neurotoxic effects similar to those observed in the US cases cited above might also occur in members of the population with relatively high exposure. The general conclusion of this discussion mammals, poses important public health hazards to consumers in every region covered by this report. What Needs to Be Done The public health challenges posed by are complex. While the risk from mercury solution is certainly not for people to stop low-mercury varieties as often as possible, and limiting or avoiding consumption of varieties that can lead to excessive mercury exposure, whatever their particular circumstances may be. This simple-sounding formula is far from simple to execute. Finding workable solutions requires participation by all affected process also requires working in all three management, and risk communication. Risk Assessment Needs In order to perform an adequate risk assessment on this issue, better data are usually needed on many aspects of the much better characterized in most countries. statistically reliable averages and ranges are or ethnic diets. Data are needed not only to document the high levels of mercury that may occur in some species, but just as importantly, to document low levels of mercury that occur which varieties can safely be consumed in large quantities. and in what quantities, not only on average for countries as a whole, but by subgroups within the overall population. Ideally, the mean per capita consumption and indices of high-end consumption such as 90 th , 95 th and perhaps 99 th percentile intake * , should consumption but also for important individual
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Mercury in Fish 1.45 Mb - Arnika

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