3/14/2024 0 Comments Tuna and mercury poisoningThe Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, a NOAA agency, also state on their website, “regardless of the amount of mercury in fish, if the selenium level is higher, the fish is safe to eat”. A separate study published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal reports, too, that selenium clears methyl mercury in fish. Other research published decades ago noted in the magazine, Nature, suggests the same more recent findings as the EERC and NOAA researchers. The researchers concluded that, on the contrary, ocean fish consumption prevented methyl mercury toxicity rather than created it. He explains that both humans and rats are selenium-dependent creatures and need/use selenium in the same way. Ralston also pointed out that these selenium/mercury test results also translated to humans as well. The lab animals that did not get the selenium showed toxic neurologic effects.ĭr. Ralston cites studies that show that lab animals given equal amounts of selenium and methyl mercury-containing fish showed no adverse effects from the methyl mercury. This selenium/mercury bonding prevents the methyl mercury from doing harm when you eat it. They point out that, even though albacore does contain more methyl mercury than light tuna, albacore also has a rather high selenium level that cancels out its harmful effects.Īccording to Nicholas Ralston, a Biomedical Scientist at EERC, in one of their short documentaries, selenium binds to methyl mercury in an unbreakable bond in the proteins of fish flesh. They claim you don’t have to worry about methyl mercury in your fish at all if its selenium content is higher.Īccording to these agencies, even albacore tuna gets a pass. The conclusions from these groups are in stark contrast to both the USDA and PETA. Limited consumer consumption then, limits the amount of tuna that are harmed.Īnother, more controversial, opinion exists from other groups – the EERC (Energy and Environmental Research Center), CATM (Center for Air Toxic Metals) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association). This opinion, however, may be based on PETA’s claim that tuna are inhumanely caught and processed. One of these, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), says ½ can of albacore tuna, or 2-1/2 cans of light tuna, a week should be your limit. Other agencies had different recommendations. You enter your weight, select your sex, and voila the EWG tells you how much tuna to eat. Some sources cite the USDA as recommending only 8 ounces a week as the top limit.Īnother agency, the EWG (Environmental Working Group) came up with a tuna calculator to tell you how much tuna you can safely eat per week (see their website link in references) if you are a man or woman. It was advised to eat only 1 can of albacore tuna a week, if at all, due to the high content of methyl mercury. This can result in a buildup of toxic heavy metals.įor a long time, the USDA has been telling us that eating about 12 ounces of fish a week is safe, and list on their website 5 of the most common, low mercury containing fish such as canned light tuna, catfish, pollock, salmon, and shrimp. This can be a slow process, though, if you are consuming a lot of methyl mercury-containing food over a short period of time. Your body then goes about the process of trying to clear this heavy metal from your body through your liver. And, like fish, these toxins also accumulate in your fat tissues. That methyl mercury is then passed on to you when you eat the fish. Tuna, like other fish, absorb methyl mercury from the seas in their fat tissues. Methyl Mercuryįirst, let me explain to you the concern about methyl mercury. Several groups of researchers, though, have differing opinions on how much tuna is safe for you to eat and that’s what I’d like to tell you about. Some recent news stories regarding children eating tuna have suggested that tuna may be even less safe than previous guidelines advised. Like many of my patients, and readers, you probably know that there have been concerns about eating different types of tuna as they can contain methyl mercury.
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