Enjoy fish when you are pregnant, but watch out what kind of fish you eat. Some kinds may contain so much mercury that they could harm your foetus. The question is why fresh tuna steak was not included on the list because it can also pose a risk,' said Ms Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest. In a related announcement, the Environmental Protection Agency said that pregnant women, women who might become pregnant, nursing mothers and young children should eat only one meal per week of freshwater fish caught by family members or friends. EPA said that consumers should check with their state or local health departments for specific advice about local waters.
Mercury enters the environment naturally and through industrial pollution.
Nearly all fish contain trace amounts of methyl mercury but longer-lived, larger fish that feed on other fish, like shark or swordfish, accumulate the highest amounts of methyl mercury and pose the largest threat to people who eat them regularly. Copyright 2000 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.