| Mercury Levels in Fish/Shellfish | ||
|---|---|---|
| Species | Mean (ppm) | Trophic level |
| Swordfish | 0.995 | 4.5 |
| Shark | 0.979 | |
| Mackerel – King | 0.730 | 4.5 |
Albacore (White) Tuna
Albacore still has mercury levels that are nearly three times higher than the smaller skipjack whether it is fresh or canned. Unfortunately, albacore, which has 0 oil, makes up the majority of canned white tuna. 35 parts per million of mercury (ppm). Health advocates advise against consuming more than three to six ounces of white tuna per month for kids, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
Does that imply that tuna sandwiches are no longer an option?
Nope. Eat white tuna sparingly if you’re pregnant, or avoid it altogether. Alternate choices include chunk light tuna and skipjack tuna. Choose canned salmon instead, preferably sockeye or pink salmon from Alaska. Salmon from saltwater has a low mercury content but a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
Conclusion
After reading everything I could find about mercury and fish, I came to the conclusion that even though many of these common saltwater fish have high mercury levels, you shouldn’t stop eating these fish.
Actually, rather than eating less fish, the majority of Americans need to eat more fish.
The role that selenium plays in fish was one thing that the majority of the articles neglected to mention. The majority of fish have more selenium than mercury in their meat; shark, tilefish, king mackerel, and swordfish are the exceptions. Selenium is a mineral that breaks down mercury, making it non-toxic to humans.
How can Mercury hurt you?
Mercury is generally thought to be very detrimental to a child’s brain development because it affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, particularly in unborn babies and young children. The severity of the effects is likely to increase with the amount of mercury that enters a person’s body, the duration of the exposure, and the age of the person.
Think of mercury just like alcohol. Moderation is key because too much can have serious consequences at once.
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that this list only recommends that you choose the appropriate fish and “calculate” your consumptions rather than telling you to completely eliminate these fish species from your diet.
Needless to say, it’s basically what you know (i. e. reducing your exposure to the risk of mercury) can really aid in maintaining your physical and mental health.
With this, you can choose wisely and healthily for your absolute favorite saltwater fish recipes while remaining completely worry-free.
P. S. – If you think your fishing networks or angler friends would like to see this, tag them or share it with them. You Rock! Pa-POW!.
P. P. S. We’d love to hear from you, so please leave a comment if you know of any other mercury-rich saltwater fish that we should have included.
Shark
Aside from the government’s efforts to preserve their lives, some shark meat can be totally unhealthy. According to a CNN report, this type of fish has extremely high levels of metal mercury that can eventually cause coordination loss, blindness and even death, depending on the amount or portion ingested. Scientists believed that such increased mercury content was due to the accumulation of certain contaminants in their body as they eat lots of smaller fish.
Robert Hueter, director of the Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research in Sarasota, said in a statement that of the 124 sharks he and his team sampled, “we found that about one-third of them came in with mercury levels that were over the Food and Drug Administration’s action level of one part per million.”
Eat shark sparingly if you do decide to do so.
FAQ
Is mackerel high in mercury?
As a result of their high mercury content, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish should not be eaten.
How much mercury is in canned mackerel?
The majority of canned mackerel is made from Atlantic mackerel, a fish low in mercury. Based on 80 samples, the average mercury concentration in Atlantic mackerel was 0. 05 PPM (2). Consuming three servings of canned Atlantic mackerel per week is acceptable, according to EPA-FDA fish recommendations (3).
What fish has lowest mercury?
Children should only be fed fish from the “Best Choices” list, which includes fish such as anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, catfish, clams, crab, crawfish, flounder, haddock, mullet, oysters, plaice, pollock, salmon, and those even lower in mercury, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Which mackerel has lowest mercury?
Alaskan Atlantic and Atka mackerel are high in anti-inflammatory omega-3s and low in mercury, but not all mackerel is recommended. King mackerel from the Gulf of Mexico and Western Atlantic Ocean has a high mercury content.
