Children, women of childbearing age and people who frequently eat fish are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up in the body over time. If you follow this advisory over your lifetime, you will minimize your exposure and reduce whatever cancer risk is associated with those contaminants. Long lasting contaminants such as PCBs and dioxin build up in your body over time. It may take months or years of frequently eating contaminated fish to build up amounts that are a health concern. Health problems which may result from the contaminants found in fish range from small barely detectable health changes to cancer.
Adults are less likely to have health problems at the low levels that affect children.
People who consume moderate amounts of fish in a varied diet typically are not at risk of exposure to high levels of mercury. However, health effects of mercury may include damage to the nervous system in the unborn child. Pregnant women who have high amounts of mercury in their body pass some directly to the fetus. Understanding fish consumption guidelines will help you make informed choices. This advice is based on a 150 pound person, a meal size of eight ounces and a risk factor of one in 10,000 over a 30-year period.