Tag: dungeness crab

1. What is mercury? Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. It then falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans, turning into methylmercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that is harmful to your baby. Fish absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in these waters and so it may build up in the fish. It builds up more in some types of fish than others, depending on what the fish eat, which is why the levels in the fish vary.

2. Is there methylmercury in all fish? Nearly all fish contain traces of methyl mercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methyl mercury because they’ve had more time to accumulate it. These large fish (swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish) pose the greatest risk to pregnant women. Other types of fish are safe to eat in the amounts recommended by the FDA and EPA.

3. I still eat tuna fish right? Mercury levels in tuna vary. Tuna steaks and canned albacore tuna generally contain higher levels of mercury than canned light tuna. You can safely eat up to six ounces of albacore a week.

4. Do I need to be concerned about “locally” caught fish? Some kinds of fish & shellfish caught in your local waters may have higher or much lower than average levels of mercury. This depends on the levels of mercury in the water in which the Fish are caught. Those fish with the lower levels may be safely eaten more frequently and in larger amounts. Before you go fishing, check your fishing regulations booklet for information about local advisories. You can also contact your local “health department’ for information about local advisories.

5. I’m not pregnant yet. Should I be concerned about (methylmercury)? If you regularly eat types of fish that are high in “methylmercury”, it can accumulate in your bloodstream over time. Methylmercury is removed from the body naturally but it may take over a year for the levels to drop significantly. So, it may be present in a woman even before she becomes pregnant. This is one of the reasons why women who are trying to become pregnant should also avoid eating certain types of fish.

6. I’m worried that I have been exposed to a large amount of methyl mercury. if you have questions or perhaps you think you have been exposed to large amounts of methylmercury see a doctor immediately. For more information about the risks of mercury in Fish call the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s food information line toll-free at 1-888-SEAFOOD or visit the FDA Food Safety Website.

1-Eating Seafood is a great way to improve the health of a mother and her baby! Most women don’t realize the benefits seafood offers for both them and their babies. Seafood, especially the Omega-3 oils in seafood, improves the baby’s motor skills, IQ, brain development, communication skills and social behavior.

2-The Only Fish to avoid when pregnant are those with the potential of higher mercury content. Otherwise, eating seafood low in mercury has been proven to be beneficial to both the mother and baby and is recommended as a staple of any mother’s diet.

3-The FDA recommends that pregnant women eat 12 ounces of seafood a week (two meals), but medical studies are now showing that people in general – and pregnant women in particular – should be eating more seafood than what is recommended (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents & Children – ALSPAC STUDY). This directly contradicts a common notion that eating seafood during a pregnancy is dangerous. While seafood contains minute amounts of mercury, some species (shark, swordfish, snapper, and mackerel) contain a bit more and should be avoided during pregnancy.

4-However, studies F.D.A. study have shown that eating seafood low in mercury has been proven to be beneficial to both mother and baby and recommendeds it as a staple for any mother’s diet. Source: U.S. FDA

Seafood Do’s and Don’ts for Expecting and Nursing Moms:

1-Don’t eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

2-Do eat up to 12 ounces 2 to 3 meals of other purchased fish and shellfish a week. Five of the most popular eaten fish that are very low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

3-Do make sure you mix up the types of fish and shellfish you eat. 4-Don’t eat the same type of fish or shellfish more than once a week.

5-Do check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local rivers and streams. If no advice is available, you can safely eat up to 6 ounces (one meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, or buy from Oregon Seafood. Try not to consume other fish during that week.