Mercury levels in some areas of Maine are higher than other areas of the New England region. University of Maine Assistant Research Professor Sarah Nelson says that mercury travels to Maine in the air and is found in the emissions from factories. A large source of the problem comes from factories in Asia whose emissions make their way to our side of the globe.
The levels of mercury found in most people in the U.S are not near dangerous levels. They are usually below one part-per-billion which is not enough to cause any major concern. Women who plan to become pregnant or are pregnant need to be extra careful though. There is concern that the mercury will pass from a mother to her fetus. Mercury research is still fairly new and the side effects are still being studied. Researchers find that high levels of mercury in children can lower their IQ’s.
Seafood lovers have no reason to panic. Everything in moderation is still a good idea. It is still smart to enjoy seafood as a part of your diet. To help people, both the EPA and the state of Maine have guidelines on their websites as to what levels or mercury are deemed safe in humans. The websites also provide the levels of mercury that can be found in different types of fish. Also provided is some information regarding mercury spills and leakage into the environment.
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