WHY is mercury so bad?

[poleidopy]

OK, this is a question for my friend...a mom of three who is the uncrunchiest you can possibly get...she thinks I am WAY out there. :giggle Anyway, she thinks I am a nut for never eating seafood, and not feeding DS tuna. Well, the mercury thing really bothers me...problem is, my pregnant brain can't really hold a lot of info right now, or remember anything (lame-o, I know) so I need some info from you wise women. She specifically wants to know..."WHy is mercury suddenly so bad. If it's in our fish now it's been forever, right? If not, where is it coming from?" All I could think to say was "No, it hasn't been around forever, it's there because of pollution and factories dumping their wastes in our water." So she asks "Well, WHAT factories specifically?" (Like there are just two or three that i could name and we could get them to stop and the problem would be solved. :rolleyes :doh ) "Well, why is it such a big deal? people have been eating fish for thousands of years and they are fine."
I just don't know what to tell this lady!

[poleidopy]

OK, this is a question for my friend...a mom of three who is the uncrunchiest you can possibly get...she thinks I am WAY out there. :giggle Anyway, she thinks I am a nut for never eating seafood, and not feeding DS tuna. Well, the mercury thing really bothers me...problem is, my pregnant brain can't really hold a lot of info right now, or remember anything (lame-o, I know) so I need some info from you wise women. She specifically wants to know..."WHy is mercury suddenly so bad. If it's in our fish now it's been forever, right? If not, where is it coming from?" All I could think to say was "No, it hasn't been around forever, it's there because of pollution and factories dumping their wastes in our water." So she asks "Well, WHAT factories specifically?" (Like there are just two or three that i could name and we could get them to stop and the problem would be solved. :rolleyes :doh ) "Well, why is it such a big deal? people have been eating fish for thousands of years and they are fine."
I just don't know what to tell this lady!

[Piper2]

All I know is that they're saying that there's mercury in seafood NOW and that mercury has been suggested as a possible cause of autism. I ate a good bit of tuna when I was pregnant (especially when they had me on a diabetic diet), and now we're dealing with a child who is showing signs of a possible autistic spectrum disorder. :(

TBH I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'd rather not eat anything that could cause problems, and that way even if the problem does occur, I wouldn't be blaming myself for it.

[Piper2]

All I know is that they're saying that there's mercury in seafood NOW and that mercury has been suggested as a possible cause of autism. I ate a good bit of tuna when I was pregnant (especially when they had me on a diabetic diet), and now we're dealing with a child who is showing signs of a possible autistic spectrum disorder. :(

TBH I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'd rather not eat anything that could cause problems, and that way even if the problem does occur, I wouldn't be blaming myself for it.

[RosieTook]

Mercury has always been bad, it's just now that we are learning how bad, especially for children. And the pollution is alot worse, making it more concentrated in the fish.

[RosieTook]

Mercury has always been bad, it's just now that we are learning how bad, especially for children. And the pollution is alot worse, making it more concentrated in the fish.

[Chris3jam]

Well, a certain amount of mercury is naturally occurring. And the body has the ability to flush out excess. But, it can also build up and cause problems.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment and is also released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury that falls from the air can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes that transform mercury into methylmercury. Fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters. Methylmercury builds up more in some fish than others depending on what they eat how long they live, and how high up the food chain they are.
Fish and shellfish are the main sources of mercury exposure to humans and that mercury is in the form of methylmercury. Other forms of mercury, such as that in dental amalgams are minor contributors to human mercury exposure.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/mercury/backgrounder.html

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002369.html

http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/5/1539S

Anyway. . there's more, but I gotta go!

[Chris3jam]

Well, a certain amount of mercury is naturally occurring. And the body has the ability to flush out excess. But, it can also build up and cause problems.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment and is also released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury that falls from the air can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes that transform mercury into methylmercury. Fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters. Methylmercury builds up more in some fish than others depending on what they eat how long they live, and how high up the food chain they are.
Fish and shellfish are the main sources of mercury exposure to humans and that mercury is in the form of methylmercury. Other forms of mercury, such as that in dental amalgams are minor contributors to human mercury exposure.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/mercury/backgrounder.html

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002369.html

http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/5/1539S

Anyway. . there's more, but I gotta go!