Many doctors suggest eating a half pound of fish each week to help prevent heart disease. You can get the health benefits of fish and reduce your exposure to chemicals by following the guidelines in the fish advisory. Health Risks Eating contaminated fish does not necessarily mean that you will get sick. However, over time, harmful levels of PCBs and mercury can build up in your body in your body without you knowing it. This is of special concern if you are pregnant or are nursing a baby.
Mercury causes problems with the nervous system that can lead to learning difficulties in children.
PCBs are known to cause low birth weights and delays in physical development. If you follow the recommendations in the fish advisory, you will keep your exposure low. Cleaning and Cooking Many chemicals are found at higher levels in the fat of the fish. You can reduce the amount of these chemicals and your exposure by properly trimming, skinning and cooking your catch. Cooking does not destroy chemicals in fish , but heat from cooking melts some of the fat in fish and allows some of the contaminated fat to drip away.