The second part of the advisory recommends that women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers and young children should not eat fish from these waters. Other people are advised to eat no more than two meals per month of fish caught from these areas. Because of the changes we made to our guidelines, we are now expanding the fish advisory. The mercury levels in fish from these waters have not changed. Fish Advisory Mercury is released into the environment by both natural sources and pollution.
Biological processes transform mercury in the water into more toxic methylmercury.
Fish absorb methylmercury directly from water, sediment and from eating smaller aquatic organisms that contain methylmercury. According to published scientific studies, infants, unborn babies and young children are at the greatest risk of suffering neurological disorders from exposure to methylmercury. Exposure to high levels of all forms of mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidney, and developing fetus.