Mercury content in fish raises concerns

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Concerns that eating even small amounts of some popular Island fish too frequently could expose some women and young children to mercury are prompting health officials to increase warnings about it.

"Maybe if you're pregnant, eating three plates of sashimi at New Year's is not a good idea," she said.

Rosen does not suggest that everyone should stop eating fish.

Mercury levels aren't a concern for most people, Rosen said, but can create a problem for women of childbearing age and children under 8. Rosen said state health officials advise women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have young children — roughly those under age 8 — to avoid Pacific blue marlin (also sold as kajiki), swordfish (also sold as shutome) and shark.

A typical serving size of fish is 3 ounces for a child — about the size of a deck of cards — and 6 ounces for an adult. Women and children who eat fish at least once a week may need to change the kinds of fish they eat or how often they eat certain varieties.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises women who are pregnant or might become pregnant to avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish and to eat no more than 12 ounces a week of some of the other species.

The state Health Department recommendations take "the mercury content of the fish into consideration when recommending limits and don't have any top limit for fish," Rosen said.

Rosen points to potential problems related to Hawai'i's Island culture that encourages eating of fresh fish — a generally healthy habit. "I don't think there's many places that eat as much fish as we do," she said.

Rosen said too much mercury can cause damage to the brain and nervous system. Experts say the developing brain of an unborn child or a young child is particularly at risk, as high levels of mercury can change a child's behavior and lead to learning problems.

Rosen said the state is pushing for increased awareness of the risks with an updated brochure and information on the Health Department's Web site.

Because of concerns about mercury exposure, state officials applied for and received federal permission to allow a nutrition program for women and children to offer a substitute of canned salmon instead of canned tuna.

National statistics list canned tuna as one of the most popular items on grocery store shelves, right up there after sugar and coffee.

Mercury leaves the body slowly, prompting health officials to suggest that women of child-bearing age not wait until they're pregnant to reduce potential exposure.

"I'm sure there are quite a few women of childbearing age who aren't aware of this," Rosen said. "It's really an important problem."

Rosen credits Sher Pollack, state quality assurance coordinator with the federal Women and Infant Children (WIC) program, with getting a waiver that allows women to use their vouchers to get four cans of salmon instead of of tuna.

The nutrition program is aimed at low-income families and provides nutrition information, breastfeeding support and education, and free nutritious food through vouchers.

In 2001, the federal government first sent out warnings about the hazards of fish with high mercury levels to women who are in their childbearing years and young children.

In April, the reports picked up steam from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the release of a study that indicated 8 percent of women in their childbearing years had levels of mercury considered unsafe by the EPA.l

Rosen said the state Health Department is planning to do a sampling of fish available at retail stores to check for mercury levels.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.