Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans and is turned into methyl mercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to your unborn baby and young child. Fish absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in these waters and so it builds up in them.
Organic mercury can cause teratogenic effects such as cerebral atrophy (loss of brain volume), microcephaly (smaller than normal head size), mental retardation, spasticity, seizures, and blindness. Cerebral palsy can occur even when exposure is in the third trimester.
The FDA has developed 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish.
First FDA Recommendation: Avoid eating Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, and Tilefish. A recent study by Turtle Island Restoration Project of mercury levels in swordfish found that 68% of swordfish samples were above the FDA Action Level of 1 part per million mercury. The average mercury concentration found was 1.38 parts per million, 38% higher than the FDA Action Level.
Second FDA Recommendation: Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. These include shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollack, and catfish.
Third FDA Recommendation: Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.
There is much more information available through an interesting web sites such as gotmercury.org and cfsan.fda.gov/seafood1.html.
If you would like to discuss this subject with your obstetrician, contact your health care provider at The Woman's Wellness Center, P.C.
Last Updated May 2007
View all Pregnancy Articles
View all Pregnancy Links
View all Postpartum Links
Did you find what you were looking for?
If not, search our site.
