Does it seem like every day there is a new warning about something? You may wonder if anything is safe to eat, drink, or breathe. Well, fortunately, in many cases, it is just a matter of learning how to cook, handle, or consume a particular product to make it safe. Such is the case with mercury-in-fish.

At this time, over 35 of the 50 states have issued fish consumption notices on at least one body of water because of mercury accumulation in fish. Arkansas has found mercury levels above the Food and Drug Administrations’ 1.0 part per million (PPM) action limit for safe consumption by humans in some species in various bodies of water.

Fortunately, no cases of mercury poisoning have been reported in Arkansas. However, the public has been notified to be cautious about eating some species, in certain bodies of water. Eating fish with mercury will not make you ill right away, but as you eat more and more, it builds up in the body. Over time, it can damage the kidneys or the nervous system.

If living in the notified area, the following groups should be particularly careful:

* children younger than 7 years old

* pregnant women

* women planning a pregnancy

* women breastfeeding, and

* people who eat a lot of fish over long periods of time.

Women of childbearing age and children should be most careful, because unborn babies and children’s nervous systems are still forming. Any effects on the nervous system at these ages may be permanent. In adults, health effects generally go away after mercury exposure stops. The effects of mercury can include tingling or numbness in the mouth, hands and feet; vision and hearing problems; and learning problems and birth defects in children (found at high mercury blood levels).

Fish is an important, low-fat source of protein. In fact, many people have increased the amount of fish in their diets in the past few years for this reason. There is no need to stop fishing or eating fish now. You just need to know the guidelines for eating fish safely. No cleaning or cooking methods decrease the amount of mercury in fish, because mercury is stored in the meat portion of the fish instead of the fat or skin.

To reduce the chance of having negative health effects from mercury when eating fish, follow the fish consumption guidelines available from the Health Department.

When fishing for food from lakes or rivers with mercury notices, keep the smaller fish. Younger fish will have less mercury than older, larger fish of the same type. Choose fish like bream or crappie, which do not eat other fish as their main diet. Eat smaller amounts of those small fish and eat fish from a variety of places like restaurants, supermarkets, and lakes without a mercury notice. Remember the farm-raised catfish are fine. Catfish farms generally feed food pellets, which contain little, if any, mercury.

Many people wonder what mercury is and where it is coming from. Mercury is an element that occurs naturally in many rocks in Arkansas. It’s also present when coal is burned and from some industrial processes.

There are several types of mercury. Organic mercury, known as methylmercury, is of particular concern. The fact that mercury is found in the soil under the water of lakes and streams does not mean it is a problem. It has to be converted to the organic (methylmercury) form before it will begin to accumulate in the food chain and affect human health.

Certain conditions have to be present for this to occur, such as dead leaves, slightly acid water, anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions and bacteria. Not all bodies of water have these conditions, so only some bodies of water in Arkansas have a mercury-in-fish problem.

Remember that mercury is a problem we can safely live with. Fish can be an important part of a balanced diet because it is a good source of low-fat protein. You do not have to stop fishing or quit eating Arkansas fish--just learn to eat them safely.

A free brochure is available that lists all of the bodies of water under a mercury-in-fish notice. The brochure also shows maps of the affected areas and explains which fish are safe to eat and which are not. For a free copy, call the Arkansas Department of Health at 1-800-235-0002 and ask for the "Mercury in Fish Notice Brochure."

Mercury In Fish