|
|
|
|
|
People who do not eat fish
are exposed to mercury (other than
from mercury spills) at levels unlikely to cause adverse health effects.
|
|
|
|
These are exposures from
mercury in air, drinking water, surface water, sediment, soil and food, other
than fish.
|
|
|
|
People can obtain the
benefits of eating fish while avoiding harmful amounts of chemicals by
following fish advisories.
|
|
|
|
People who eat a lot of fish
containing mercury may be at risk for subtle neurological effects.
|
|
|
|
Various fish consumption
scenarios are presented in Table 9 of the draft report indicating different
number of meals and different mercury concentrations in fish tissue. Note
that a 1 year old child would need to eat 4 – quarter pound fish meals per
month containing 0.25 mg/kg or more to exceed the Minimal Risk Level.
Similarly a woman of child bearing age would need to eat about 12 meals-
half-pound meals per month of fish containing the same amount of mercury to
reach the Minimal Risk Level. Even
when the MRL is exceeded, the exposures are not necessarily at levels where
adverse health effects might occur.
|
|
|
|
Subtle neurological effects
are apparent only with carefully-designed scientific study.
|
|
|
