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Mercury poisoning is the reason Jeremy Piven announced he had to leave a broadway show. Most people were shocked because they hadn't heard of this illness.
Whether he actually experienced mercury poisoning is immaterial but it is real and there are ways to protect ourselves.
Mercury Poisoning Symptoms
Symptoms of mercury poisoning include sensory impairment of vision, hearing or speech and a lack of coordination. Hyperhidrosis (profuse sweating) and tachycardia (fast heart beat) are other symptoms.
These symptoms vary depending upon dosage, method of exposure and duration of exposure.
Mercury poisoning from fish consumption
Fish consumption is by far considered the most significant source of ingestion-related mercury exposure in humans. Plants and livestock also contain mercury which comes from soil, water and atmosphere.
Exposure to mercury
Other exposure to mercury comes from 1) Breathing contaminated air 2) eating foods containing mercury residue from processing (such as high-fructose corn syrup) 3) mercury vapor in amalgam fillings 4) improper use or disposal of fluorescent light bulbs. Human sources such as coal plants emit approximately half of atmospheric mercury with volcanoes responsible for the remainder.
Click here for printable food additives checklist
Mercury Poisoning Damage
Mercury is a highly reactive toxic agent that is difficult to identify how it damages. There is still a lot to learn. For now, it is known it damages the central nervous system, endocrine system, kidneys and other organs. Young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.
The United States Environmental Agency even launched an awareness campaign for kids and young adults called “Fish Kids” because they are so susceptible. Mercury poisoning is not to be taken lightly.
There are detox products which help remove mercury. These products are covered in an upcoming article. For now, this printable checklist of mercury levels in fish assist in low exposure.
Mercury Levels in Fish Checklist
Print and laminate for a handy reference when shopping or dining out.
High Mercury Levels
Grouper*
Marlin*
Bluefish
Croaker
Halibut*
Bass*
Tilefish*
Shark*
Swordfish
Mackerel (King)
Orange Roughy*
Lobster (Maine)
Swordfish
Tuna
(Fresh bluefin ahi/canned white)
Medium Mercury Levels
Carp
Rock Cod*
Snapper*
Herring
Skate
Monkfish*
Mahi Mahi
Crab (Blue, snow, dungeness)
Perch (Freshwater)
Tuna (Fresh Pacific, canned chunk light)
Low Mercury Levels
Anchovies
Butterfish
Calamari
Oysters
Catfish
Whitefish
Scallops
Sardines
Sturgeon
Flounder*
Haddock*
Tilapia
Clams
Herring
Shad
Trout (Freshwater)
Caviar (Farmed)
Crab (King)*
Lobster (Spiny/Rock)
Perch (Ocean)
Hake
Salmon*
Shrimp*
Pollock
Sole
Legend: *Overfished
Avoid mercury poisoning by purchasing products at these Oklahoma City stores.
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Disclaimer: Article for information purposes only. Please consult with your healthcare professional ofsuspected mercury poisoning
Comments
Merry poisoning is a big problem in some chemistry labs. Dartmouth lost a chemist a few years ago when mercury oxide was transferred through her gloves, and ended up killing her in a few days.
Scarey stuff!
As a registered dietitian I would like to provide you with some accurate, timely and credible food and nutrition information concerning high fructose corn syrup and alleged mercury findings and be a reference for you for future broadcasts. No mercury or mercury-based technology is used in the production of high fructose corn syrup in North America. Safety is the highest priority for this industry, which is why they immediately commissioned external testing as well as independent expert review of claims concerning mercury and corn sweetener. In fact, Woodhall Stopford, MD, MSPH, of Duke University Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading experts in mercury contamination, reviewed the results of total mercury testing of samples of high fructose corn syrup conducted by Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratory (Metairie, LA) in February and March 2009. Dr. Stopford concluded that no quantifiable mercury was detected in any of the samples analyzed. High fructose corn syrup does not appear
Thank you Carol. It looks like researchers disagree on high fructose corn syrup. Here's website to the study I refer to in my article and it was published January 2009,
ehjournal.net/content/8/1/2
An interesting article. Funny thing is, we've been encouraged to go green, right? Yet the bulbs they want us to use contain mercury. Now I don't know about you, but...
Hi, saw you on AC and subscribed. :)
I have a tendency not to believe this as the Japanese eat waaaay more seafood and fish than Americans yet they don't seem to get mercury poisoning. Neither do the Thais and they eat more seafood and fish than anyone I've ever come across.
Hi Cassandra,
You bring up a great point. I just felt if the EPA considers fish dangerous because of their mercury levels, folks should know about it. Possibly, Americans have more mercury fillings than the Japanese?
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