It behooves state health officials to act responsibly considering the federal government is not when it comes to warning pregnant women about the level of mercury in ocean fish, Bender said. It is the high level of mercury that is important. Give the people the information, he said. In interviews, state toxicologists underscored the similarities in their general guidelines, especially the directive they all give for women of childbearing age to monitor the amount of freshwater fish in their diet, primarily because of mercury. What we have is fairly consistent with Connecticut, and the state of Maine is looking like they may end up coming in line with something similar to what we have, said John Dreisig, New Hampshire state toxicologist.
Fish are high in protein and low in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to meat or poultry.
The officials interviewed all were eagerly awaiting a report on the health effects of mercury being done by a research council of the National Academy of Sciences. The study, to be published later this summer, will review the heavy metal s toxicity and refine federal guidelines on the dose-range humans can tolerate. Mercury is the principal concern for a pregnant woman because a minute amount can cause neurological damage to the developing fetus. William C. Bress, the state toxicologist in Vermont, noted the safe-dose guidelines currently promulgated by the FDA differ from those of the federal Environmental Protection Agency. They are sending out mixed messages, Bress said.