Dangerous mercury levels in sushi

JANUARY 23, 2008—Lab tests on sushi from 20 Manhattan eateries and markets contained so much mercury that eating six pieces a week would exceed safe levels as outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency, the New York Times has reported.

The New York Times procured the sushi for tests in October. According to the Times, five of the 20 places surveyed had mercury levels so high that the Food and Drug Administration could take action to remove the fish.

“No one should eat a meal of tuna with mercury levels like those found in the restaurant samples more than about once every three weeks,” Dr. Michael Gochfeld, professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J., said.

While the survey focused on New York City, scientists expect that results would be similar throughout the country.

“Mercury levels in bluefin are likely to be very high regardless of location,” Tim Fitzgerald, a marine scientist for Environmental Defense, told the New York Times.

A 2004 FDA advisory to pregnant women about mercury levels in canned tuna excluded fresh tuna; however, the Times found that mercury levels in fresh tuna exceeded the levels in canned tuna.

According to Medical News Today, mercury can impair peripheral vision, speech, hearing and motor coordination as well as cause numbness, weakness, rashes and mood swings. It’s also harmful to people’s organs and immune system.

By Care2 editorial staff

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Fred H.

4:21PM PST on Jan 6, 2013

Thank you Annie, for Sharing this!

January 6
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Danuta W.

12:50AM PDT on Jun 24, 2012

Vegan

June 24
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Sue M.

5:46AM PDT on May 1, 2012

thanks

May 1
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A K.

3:46AM PST on Mar 4, 2012

Forgot to add, they were amongst the healthist people in the world - go figure.

March 4
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3:44AM PST on Mar 4, 2012

Here's what I don't understand, if it lowers intelligence in children so dramatically and causes so many other health problems, why aren't the people in Japan more sickly and less intelligent than us? When I lived over there for 3 yrs, everyone, I repeat Everyone, ate tons of fresh tuna - kids, pregnant women and elderly? Their diets are mostly fish and vegetables with "white"(not brown) rice.

Lydia W.

11:57AM PST on Mar 3, 2012

Mercury is dangerous. It can also cause your head to swell and cause glaucoma.