Watch out for mercury in canned tuna and fish

[Teri]

Hello to Santa Rosa Moms,

I thought you'd be interested in knowing about mercury in canned tuna and fish, and how to estimate your exposure through the website www.gotmercury.org or on your mobile phone at www.gotmercury.mobi

Mothers and children are the most vulnerable to exposure to mercury from eating too much canned tuna, sushi or other high mercury fish.

Please see the tuna advisory that my organization is sending out below.

Thanks,

Teri Shore


IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT CANNED TUNA AND MERCURY

Did you know canned tuna contains mercury? Canned tuna, including “light” or “chunk light” can contain high levels of mercury and should be eaten sparingly. Women and children are most at risk from consuming too much mercury from eating canned tuna and other high mercury fish. The problem is that mercury levels vary by can and tuna species, so it is a toxic gamble whenever you open the can.

To easily estimate your mercury exposure, go to the free online mercury-in-fish calculator at www.GotMercury.org or from your cell phone www.Gotmercury.mobi.
If you choose to eat canned tuna, follow the U.S. government guidelines below.

The number one source of exposure to mercury is eating seafood. Reducing exposure to mercury can easily be done by avoiding certain types of fish: swordfish, shark and tuna. Good Housekeeping magazine recommends that women and children eat canned salmon instead of canned tuna due to mercury concerns.

Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to humankind. Mercury enters our bodies in the form of methylmercury primarily through consumption of contaminated fish. Mercury ingestion can lead to memory loss, developmental and learning disorders, vision loss, heart disease and in extreme cases, can result in death. Mercury is especially dangerous to pregnant or breast feeding women and children.

TUNA CONSUMPTION CHART
Maximum Weekly Tuna Consumption
6-ounce cans
Your Weight in pounds Albacore Tuna Chunk Light Tuna
40 ¼ can per week ½ can per week
60 1/3 can per week 2/3 can per week
80 1/3 can per week 1 can per week
100 ½ can per week 1 1/3 can per week
120 2/3 can per week 1 ½ can per week
140 2/3 can per week 2 cans per week
160 2/3 can per week 2 cans per week
180+ 1 can per week 2 cans per week

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT WWW.GOTMERCURY.ORG, 415-663-8590, EXT. 106,
GOT MERCURY, P. O. BOX 370, FOREST KNOLLS, CA 94933