Does Fish Contain High Levels Of Mercury

Mercury levels in fish.

Does fish contain high levels of mercury.

Some of the fish and seafood with high mercury levels include. 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. Eat up to 12 ounces 2 average meals a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are. Opt for organic farm raised seafood that contains lesser amounts of mercury such as wild alaskan salmon eel crab shrimp and catfish.

Some fish however contain high amounts of mercury enough to damage a fetus or newborn. Fish is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. For most people the small amounts in fish do not pose a health problem. All fish contain trace amounts of mercury.

Fish is one of the best sources of protein omega 3 fatty acids and other nutrients including iron potassium and b vitamins unfortunately much of our world s seafood supply is contaminated with high levels of toxic mercury. The risk of mercury poisoning is real if you eat a lot of fish especially fish that have a high concentration of mercury. The concern over this issue hovers over the otherwise positive benefits of eating seafood. Shark swordfish tilefish king mackerel.

Fish and shellfish concentrate mercury in their bodies often in the form of methylmercury a highly toxic organomercury compound. That is why pregnant and nursing mothers must be very careful about the amounts and types of fish they eat. However some seafood has high levels of mercury while some have minute levels. Do not eat shark swordfish king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

Species chart and information. The table is sorted by mercury concentration mean ppm from fish with lowest levels of mercury to highest levels of mercury. Ideally all seafood contains mercury. 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.

That s because it s a great source of protein micronutrients and healthy fats. But nearly all fish contain at least a trace amount of mercury. However some types of fish can 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.