EPA National Advice on Mercury in Freshwater Fish
for Women Who Are or May Become Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, and Young
Children
Are you pregnant or is there a possibility that you could
become pregnant? Are you nursing an infant or do you have young
children? Does your family eat fish that they catch from nearby
fresh waters? If so, please read this important information.
Fish can be an important source of nutrition for you, your developing
baby, and young child. However, some fish contain harmful levels
of the pollutant mercury. Mercury consumed by a pregnant or nursing
woman or by a young child can harm the developing brain and nervous
system. You can avoid the risks associated with mercury and still
get the health benefits of eating fish by following the advice given
here.
How does mercury get into fish that I eat?
Most mercury pollution is released into the air. It falls down
directly onto waterways or is deposited on land where it can be
washed into the water. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes
that transform mercury into a highly toxic form - methylmercury.
Methylmercury accumulates in fish, with larger fish generally accumulating
higher levels of methylmercury. The Environmental Protection Agency
and States are working to reduce mercury pollution in the environment
but because methylmercury is very persistent, it will be many years
before methylmercury levels in fish are reduced.
How can I avoid levels of methylmercury that could harm
my baby or child?
If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, are nursing
a baby, or if you are feeding a young child, limit consumption of
freshwater fish caught by family and friends to one meal per week.
For adults one meal is six ounces of cooked fish or eight ounces
uncooked fish; for a young child one meal is two ounces cooked fish
or three ounces uncooked fish. Many states collect data
on mercury levels in fish from local waters. Check with your state
or local health department for specific advice on waters where your
family and friends are fishing.
In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued
advice on mercury in fish bought from stores and restaurants, which
includes ocean and coastal fish as well as other types of commercial
fish. FDA advises that women who are pregnant or could become pregnant,
nursing mothers and young children not eat shark, swordfish, king
mackerel, or tilefish. FDA also advises that women of childbearing
age and pregnant women may eat an average of 12 ounces of fish purchased
in stores and restaurants each week. Therefore, if in a given week
you eat 12 ounces of cooked fish from a store or restaurant, then
do not eat fish caught by your family or friends that week. This
is important to keep the total level of methylmercury contributed
by all fish at a low level in your body.
EPA recommends that women who are or could become pregnant, nursing
mothers and young children follow the FDA advice for coastal and
ocean fish caught by family and friends. Check with your local or
state health department for specific advice.
Fish is a good source of protein and adequate protein is necessary
for a baby and child's healthy development. If fish caught by family
and friends is your primary source of protein, try substituting
meat, poultry, eggs, or dairy products. If you can't get these sources
of protein, ask your State or local health department about other
ways to meet your and your child's nutritional needs.
Is it OK for the rest of my family to eat fish caught by
family and friends?
This national advice is for nursing mothers, women who are or could
become pregnant, and young children. The developing nervous system
of the baby and young child is more sensitive to the harmful effects
of methylmercury than the more fully developed nervous system of
an older child or adult. Other family members do not need to follow
this advice but should follow the recommendations of the State or
local health department on the amount of fish caught by family and
friends that is safe to eat.
What about fish from stores and restaurants?
The Food & Drug Administration is issuing a methylmercury advisory
on the hazard posed by fish purchased in stores and restaurants.
EPA's advice only covers freshwater fish caught by friends and family
from local waters. However, EPA recommends that women who are or
could become pregnant, nursing mothers and young children follow
the FDA advice for coastal and ocean fish caught by family and friends.
For more information on mercury in these fish, please contact the
Food and Drug Administration or visit their web site at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/tphgfish.html
 on
the Internet.
Where can I get more information?
For more information on freshwater fish consumption advisories
across the country, go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/.
To find your State or local contact on the safety of fish you catch
from local waters, go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/
and click on Federal, State, and Tribal Contacts for Fish Advisories.
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