Fish Consumption Advisory Protects Your Heath
Mercury and PCBs are toxic chemicals present in the environment. Mercury in the environment may come from improper disposal of mercury products and wastewater discharges, although most of the mercury in the air comes from coal burning power plants. Similarly, PCBs are found in the environment from different industrial and commercial products. The manufacturing of PCBs was halted in the U.S. in the 1970s due to its potential harmful effects. However, PCBs can still be released in the environment from hazardous waste sites, illegal or improper disposal of industrial wastes and consumer products, leaks from old electrical transformers and burning of some wastes in incinerators.
Mercury poses a greater risk to children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Small amounts of mercury can damage the brain and nervous systems of a fetus, infant or young child, which may lead to difficulties in learning, memory, vision and hearing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that about 400,000 babies born each year in the U.S. are at risk of neurological damage due to consumption of mercury-contaminated fish. Health problems associated with PCBs include damage to the nervous and immune systems in children and skin conditions in adults.
Fish and shellfish are a good part of a healthy, low-fat diet and a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals. However, you could be harmed if you eat certain types of fish or eat too many fish too often from waters high in mercury and PCBs contamination.
Ohio has been issuing fish consumption advisories for 15 years to make people aware of what kind of fish they should catch and what amount of fish they can consume to avoid health risks. They are not enforceable limits, but act as guidelines and suggestions on what is considered a safe meal size, safe meal frequency and what species are reliable for consumption.
For more information, visit the Earth Day Coalition’s website at www.earthdaycoalition.org and download a flyer and chart of fish recommendations (available in both English and Spanish) or visit the Ohio EPA website at www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/fishadvisory/index.html.
August/September 2008 Contents