Avoid Some Seafood and Avoid toxic Mercury

Mercury is one of the most toxic metals---even more so than lead. This poison is found in our soil, water, and food supply, as well as in sewage sludge, fungicides, and pesticides. Mercury is a cumulative poison and a heavy metal that enters the atmosphere primarily from coal-burning electric utilities. Mercury found in lakes and oceans are converted by bacteria into methyl mercury a much more toxic substance. Some grains and seeds are treated with methyl mercury chlorine bleaches, which seep into food supply. Because methyl mercury contaminates our waters, large amounts are found in fish, particularly larger one that are farther up in the food chain. An estimated one-third or possibly more of America's lakes and one-fourth of its rivers now contain fish that may be contaminated with mercury. Methyl mercury is absorbed into the fat tissues of fish and can be found in most seafood especially bigger  predatory fish like swordfish, title fish, shark, king mackerel, lobster, tuna (fresh, frozen and canned), grouper, halibut, Pollock, catfish, scallops etc.  According to a recent study, farm-raised salmon contain significantly more potential cancer causing pollutants than salmon caught in the wild. The researchers traced the contaminants to the food fed to farm salmon. An analysis found that the farmed salmon had similar pollutant level to the fish meal they eat. Researchers suggested that the aquaculture industry lean up its products by switching to Alternative protein feed based on plants, such as soybeans.

The current FDA standard, advice that women of childbearing age (especially those who are pregnant) should avoid fish containing high levels of mercury/methyl mercury such like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and title fish. All seafood consumption should be limited to 12 0z (340g) per week.

In the United States, the FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) considers a safe limit to be one part per million (ppm) of methyl mercury.

The United States environmental protection agency (EPA) considers 0.25ppm as an OK limit.

The Canadian health guidelines considers 0.5ppm to be a reasonable limit and advises all adult to limit consumption of seafood’s such as swordfish, shark, fresh or frozen tunas to one meal per week . Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children should limit fish consumption to one meal a month.

Now if we accept these standards recommended it means we still consuming some amount of mercury and methyl mercury which could lead to possible health problems when eaten over a life course of an individual life, don’t you think? Considering most people who are not aware of these warning could be consuming an extreme amount of methyl mercury as they like and consume more seafood food. Although seafood is nutritious because it has low-saturated fat source of high quality protein rich heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, it makes sense to choose seafood  with the lowest in mercury level such as cat fish(0.07ppm mercury level),salmon, shrimp, haddock, (0.20ppm), scallop (0.05ppm), crab, sardines, flounder and Pollock used in frozen food products . It is advised that you trim the fat from fish and to choose canned light tuna over white canned tuna.

On the other hand it is very wise to avoid consumption of seafood to maintain your health. This is one of the reasons why vegans live longer and are known to have less health related diseases than their counterparts who consume seafood and meat.  We are advised by the media and schools that fish consumption for health reason is healthy but think again about the toxicity in these foods.  DR Neal Barnard, author of foods that fight pain an expert, tells that the environmental protection agency (EPA) revealed that women who ate fish just twice a week had blood mercury concentrations that were seven times higher than those of women who didn’t eat fish at all. Women who eat just one can of tuna per week will be 30 percent over the EPA cutoff for safe mercury levels.

Methyl mercury is particularly toxic to young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. It can have a negative effect on a developing brain causing neurological and behavioral effects.   It is found to increase the risk of heart disease in adults.

Mercury is known to cause severe health problems for humans, including brain damage, memory loss and damage to a developing fetus. One study showed that women who regularly ate fish were more likely to have babies who were sluggish at birth, had small head circumferences, and had developmental problems. Women who consume even low levels of fish contaminated with "polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury and other toxins have much more difficulty during child birth.  Some of these chemicals remain in our body for many years causing health problems.  If you ask, why farm these live animals for food when we can get our fatty acids and nutrients from plant foods such as soybeans, flax seed, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, soy products, canola oil, kiwifruits, hemp seed oil, olive oil, capsules, chia seed, echium seed, purslane, algae (seaweed- like spirulina that is a good source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA)), and vegan DHA which are much safer and reliable source of omega 3 fatty acids without harmful toxins found in the flesh and fats of seafood’s. 

Author: Onyinye A 

Source: PETA Go vegetarian, Go Vegan starter kit
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