Mercury in Seafood

Mercury levels in seafood have become a growing concern for many. The mercury found in seafood is methylmercury, mercury’s most toxic form. Fish ingest mercury from their environments; this mercury then enters our bloodstream when we consume these fish. Consumers should be aware of mercury levels in various types of fish, and make sure they do not exceed healthy limits.

The EPA has estimated a safe intake of mercury to be .1 micrograms/kg of body weight per day. The FDA has put together an extensive list of fish and the average levels of mercury that they contain.

Rather than sitting down with a pencil and paper to calculate mercury intake before dinner, consumers should visit www.GotMercury.org. This website provides a free mercury calculator. You simply enter your body weight, the type of fish you are consuming and how much you are eating. It will then tell you how much mercury you are ingesting out of your weekly maximum.

Fish are still an essential component to a healthy diet. They contain lots of high quality protein, are low in saturated fats and contain Omega 3 fatty acids. Consumers should eat up to 12 ounces of seafood that is low in mercury per week.