Ne y"a potas an aA wal Fe a f moa ies ‘ a v won 7S ea Facts a the atFood and Drug Administration Mercury In Fish: What You Should Know if You're Pregnant Or May Become Pregnant (NAPSA)—Seafood, a low-fat source of high-quality protein and other nutrients, can be an impor- tant part of a halanced diet for pregnant women or wornen who may become pregnant. However, some fish contain high levels of methylmercury, a form of mercury that can harm an unborn child’s developing nervous system. Here, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration () answers some cornmon. questions about fish so that expectant mothers can pre- vent barmto their unborn children and still enjoy the health benefits of eating seafood. How does mereury get inte fish? Mercury oecurs naturally im the environment and it can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. It falls from the air and can get into surface water, accumulating in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes that transform mercury into methylmercury, which can be toxic. Fish absorb methylmercury from water as they feed on aquatic organisms. Howcan I avoid levels of mereury that could harm my unborn child? Nearly al fish contain trace amounts of methylmercury, which is mot harmful to humans. However, long-lived, larger fish that feed on other fish accumulate the highest levels of methylmercury and pose the greatest risk to people who eat themregularly. These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Although the primary danger is to unborn children, it is prudent for nursing mothers and youngchildrennot to eat these fish as well. is it all vight to eat other fish? Yes. As long as you select a Fish, a beneficial food source, may contain mercury, which can be dangerous to unborn children. variety of other kinds of fish while you are pregnant or may become pregnant, you can safely enjoy eating them-—-up to 12 og. per week—as part of a healthful diet. You can choose shellfish, canned fish, smaller ocean fish or farm- raised fish-—just pick a variety of different species. If you eat more than 12 oz. of fish in a given week, it’s a good idea to halance it out by eating less the following week. What about the fish caught by my family or friends in fresh water lakes and streams? There can be a risk of contamination from mercury in fresh waters from either natural or industrial causes that would make the fish unsafe for you or your family to eat. The Environmental Protection Agency pro- vides current advice on fish consumption from fresh water lakes and strearms. For more information about the risks of mereury in seafood, call toll-free 1-888-SAPEFOODor visit the ’s Food Safety Web site at www.cfsan.fda.gov. Additional information is also available at www.epa.gow/ost/fish.
