I rarely re-post other’s work and even more rarely do I post it without something significant to add but this article from the Sierra Club Insider might just be enough to warrant that kind of thing. I know I consume a lot of fish and that makes this a little scary.
From the Sierra Club Insider:
"The Hidden Danger of Mercury Contamination
in the U.S. population was released today. The study analyzed hair samples from more than 6,600 women representing all 50 states and found that one in five women of childbearing age exceeded the EPA’s recommended limit.
The hair samples came from public mercury-testing events sponsored by the Sierra Club and Greenpeace in more than a dozen states as well as from individuals who ordered testing kits online. The samples were analyzed by Dr. Steve Patch and fellow researchers at the Environmental Quality Institute at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. "We found the greatest single factor influencing mercury exposure was the frequency of fish consumption," says Dr. Patch. He found a direct relationship between people’s mercury levels and the amount of fish they consumed.
Coal-burning power plants produce 42 percent of industrial mercury pollution in the U.S. — mercury from their smokestacks falls into lakes, streams, and oceans, and concentrates in fish and shellfish.
Mercury contamination is especially dangerous for women of childbearing years because mercury exposure in the womb can cause neurological damage and other health problems in children. Some states — like Illinois — are already working on legislation to significantly cut back on toxic mercury.
Do you know enough to avoid toxic mercury? Take our quiz to find out and then download our handy pocket guide to mercury-safe fish."The largest-ever study on mercury levels
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