What type of mercury is in fish

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Mercury in fish. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Methylmercury is the most hazardous Fish absorb methylmercury Some fish contain more mercury than others Fish with lower mercury levels Fish as part of the diet Mercury and the unborn baby International researchers recommend reducing safe levels of mercury Australian guidelines for safe levels of mercury in the diet Pregnant women should limit the amount of fish they eat Mercury and breastfeeding Infants and children Our body does clear out the mercury Where to get help Things to remember.

Methylmercury is the most hazardous Mercury is common in the environment and has three forms: organic, inorganic and metallic. Fish absorb methylmercury Methylmercury in fish mainly comes from mercury in ocean sediment that is transformed into methylmercury by microorganisms.

Some fish contain more mercury than others Mercury levels differ from one species of fish to the next. Fish with lower mercury levels Examples of fish that contain lower levels of mercury include: Shellfish including prawns, lobsters and oysters Salmon Canned tuna.

Be especially conservative if you are a woman of childbearing age or are feeding young children. EDF marine scientist Tim Fitzgerald recently co-authored an unparalleled collection of mercury levels in commercial seafood , in partnership with Stony Brook University.

This study is the basis for the mercury advice found throughout the Seafood Selector. Mercury in seafood Mercury is a toxic metal that poses a serious health risk to developing fetuses, babies and children, who can suffer brain damage and learning disabilities from prolonged or repeated exposure to even small amounts of mercury.

Biomagnification All fish have some mercury. This is largely due to greater monitoring, not necessarily greater pollution. All 50 states currently issue mercury advisories. As of , almost 18 million lake acres and approximately 1. Currently, 28 states have statewide mercury advisories in freshwater lakes or rivers, and 19 states have statewide advisories for mercury in their coastal waters.

In this form, mercury poses little danger because living things can get rid of it quickly. The food chain takes it from there, with methylmercury getting absorbed by phytoplankton microscopic marine algae , which are gobbled up by zooplankton tiny marine animals , which are then feasted upon by small fish.

These small fish and organisms are eaten by bigger fish who are then eaten by even bigger fish, and on and on. The methylmercury is absorbed by the bigger animal, and — since the bigger the fish, the longer it lives and the more it eats — larger fish species accumulate a lot more methylmercury in their body. The largest predatory fish in the sea, like sharks, swordfish and tuna, can have methylmercury concentrations in their muscles — the meat of the fish — that are 10 million times higher than those of their surrounding habitat.

Which is why parents are advised against giving their kids too much canned tuna fish. Of course, who is higher than the largest fish on the food chain? Accordingly, seafood is the source of nearly all the methylmercury that we acquire in our bodies. Although the liquid mercury in fever thermometers is less toxic than the form of mercury found in fish, inhaling it can still cause damage to the lungs, kidneys, and brain.

In some cities, you may be able to exchange your old mercury thermometer for a free digital replacement. Household hazardous waste collection facilities and many pharmacies also collect and safely dispose of mercury thermometers. If a mercury thermometer breaks, make sure that children do not touch the liquid mercury or inhale its vapors. Carefully sweep the little silver balls of mercury into a disposable plastic container and seal the container shut.

Then take the container to your local household hazardous waste collection facility. Do not flush the mercury down the toilet, vacuum it, or throw it in the garbage can.