How toxic is “mercury-laden” fish?
However, some types of fish contain high levels of mercury, which is concerning for the health of consumers. Mercury is a heavy metal that is found in nature in various forms, such as in the air, water, and soil. This metal is released into the environment through various means, such as burning coal, volcanic eruptions, etc. As a result, mercury can fall from the air and accumulate in streams, oceans, and transform into methylmercury in the water.
Nowadays, with environmental pollution always being a pressing issue, the amount of mercury in water is particularly high, affecting various types of fish that live in it. Consequently, humans are at risk of being exposed to mercury in various ways, not only by inhaling mercury vapors through mining or working in an industrial environment, but also through consuming certain types of fish in their daily diet.
There have been many cases of mercury exposure through the consumption of mercury-laden fish, exceeding the allowed threshold. Over time, mercury can cause very high toxicity and have serious effects on health, increasing the risk of neurological and liver diseases, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, depression, and more.
8 types of fish with the highest mercury content
Fish is a highly nutritious food, however, readers should consider limiting the consumption of the following 8 types of fish:
Farmed salmon
Natural salmon is very good for human health. However, for various reasons, the farming of salmon is becoming very popular nowadays. Farmed salmon is fed industrial food to produce large, plump fish with high caloric and saturated fat content, but low essential minerals for the body. The amount of omega-3 and omega-6 in farmed salmon is also lower. More seriously, salmon farms often do not ensure hygiene and are at risk of contamination with toxic substances such as PCBs and dioxins.
Tilapia
Although tilapia is a fish that is familiar to Vietnamese people, with sweet and easy-to-process meat, it is a type of fish that contains harmful fatty acids similar to pork fat. Therefore, consuming a lot of tilapia can cause an increase in cholesterol levels in the blood and tilapia is included in the list of the 8 types of fish with the highest mercury content that readers should consider when choosing.
Catfish
Catfish is a type of fish that Vietnam has the opportunity to export, increasing economic value. However, when testing crystal violet and malachite green in the US, the results were not as expected. What’s more concerning is that the US has listed catfish as one of the types of fish that does not guarantee quality and is among the 8 types of fish with the highest mercury content that you should know.
Tuna
Tuna is a fish that contains a lot of omega-3, which is very good for the development of young children and pregnant women. However, it is a type of fish that contains mercury, which readers should research before consuming. Tuna from the Atlantic area is considered safe and can be chosen by readers.
Mackerel
Nutritionists believe that mackerel contains a lot of mercury, especially the bluefin tuna and blackfin tuna. To avoid adverse effects on health, adults should only consume 100g of mackerel per month!
Smooth-hound shark
Did you know that large-sized smooth-hound sharks are raised and fed using hormones to increase their weight for high profits? These sharks are considered unsanitary and at risk of ingesting toxic mercury, which readers should consider when choosing.
Snakehead fish
Snakehead fish is a type of fish that is both susceptible to mercury and considered unsanitary, as they absorb industrial and agricultural waste through water.
Chilean sea bass
Although Chilean sea bass is very rich in omega-3, it is also necessary to limit consumption of this fish due to its high mercury content, exceeding the permissible level by up to 86%, which readers should consider when choosing. Snowy varieties with black stripes are still safe, but should only be consumed once a week without consuming any other types of seafood.
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