Mercury Rising
Jan 25th, 2007 at 11:52 am by Maya
In the most widespread survey of mercury in the nation’s streams, four Corvallis researchers with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Oregon State University sampled more than 2,700 fish in Oregon, Washington and 10 other Western states. They found detectable — and in some cases, high — amounts of mercury in every fish sampled from 626 randomly selected rivers and streams that flow nearly 190,000 miles.
I’ve been on the fence about giving up fish, mostly because of sushi. But between the whole overfishing thing, and now this, it seems like it’s time. The EPA thinks I should hang on.
“We found a relatively low concentration of mercury across a broad expanse,” said Spencer Peterson, a research ecologist with the EPA in Corvallis. “I think the beneficial effects of eating fish outweigh the hazard potential.”
Oh, well that’s okay then, because the EPA is always so unbiased and careful about the health of American citizens and the environment. I’ll have a dragon roll, please.
Not all fish have the same concentration of contaminants. In general, those lower on the food chain and smaller are better for you. I agree though, that the problem of over-fishing is significant.
I would encourage you to do a hair analysis & learn for yourself. Please don’t depend on any governmental agencies advice. In my family every single member had off the chart mercury poisoning, except one - me - I didn’t eat fish. Now noone eats fish in my home. Everyone here has exhibited symptoms of mercury posioning. There’s a multitude of problems someone in your family could be having & it could be caused by heavy metal posioning. Ever wonder what’s behind your kids learning disablity???
Uh, Judy? My kid is in the 99th percentile - she doesn’t have a learning disability. The bottom part was thoroughly tongue in cheek. But thanks for your concern!
One more thing re above response. Some think mercury poisoning comes from dental fillings & maybe it does. I personally have a silver filling in nearly every tooth in my head. They were placed there by a lousy dentist. I’m in my mid fifties so one would think they’d be leaking by now. But no, my test results showed no mercury in my body. But my whole family is poisoned. Thanks to consumption of fish …
Thank you for your concern re my loved ones illness/disabilities. It’s been quite sad to endure & no joking matter.