How does mercury-contaminated fish “gobble”?
However, some types of fish contain very high levels of mercury, which is a concern for consumers’ health. Mercury is a heavy metal found in nature in the form of: The environment of the air, in water and in soil.
This metal will be released into the environment in many different ways such as: Burning coal, volcanic eruption,… From there, mercury can fall from the air and accumulate a lot in streams, oceans, and become methylmercury in water.
Nowadays, when environmental pollution is always in an alarming state, the amount of mercury in water is particularly high, affecting the species of fish as well. Accordingly, humans are at risk of exposure to mercury in many ways, not only inhaling mercury vapor through the mining process or working in an industrial environment but also through the types of fish in the daily menu.
Many cases of mercury exposure occur from eating mercury-contaminated fish, with levels of mercury exceeding permissible limits. Over time, mercury will cause very high toxicity and seriously affect health, increase neurological and liver diseases, increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, depression,…
Which type of fish contains the most mercury?
Smooth fish
Did you know that smooth fish that have large sizes are raised and fed with hormones to increase their weight with the aim of high profitability. These fish are considered unclean and have the risk of harmful mercury contamination that readers should consider when choosing.
Ocean catfish
Unlike freshwater catfish, ocean catfish are classified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the most mercury-contaminated fish because they live at the bottom of the sea (80% of mercury in the upper water has been destroyed by sunlight).
In addition, they are also omnivorous species, so they are easily infected with toxins and microorganisms living in water environments. When eating types of fish with high levels of mercury such as ocean catfish, toxins will gradually accumulate in human bodies. Long-term consumption can cause mercury poisoning, damage to the oral mucosa, teeth, and affect the digestive and serious kidney.
Carp
Carp is a type of fish that Vietnam has opportunities to export, increasing economic value. However, when testing crystal violet and malachite green in the US, the results were not as expected. Worse, the US lists carp as one of the types of fish that does not guarantee quality and belongs to the 8 types of fish with the most mercury that readers should know.
Tuna fish
Tuna fish is a type of 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 that readers should research before consuming. Tuna fish in the Atlantic is considered safe that readers can choose.
Snakehead fish
Snakehead fish is a type of fish that is easily contaminated with mercury and is considered unclean because they absorb industrial and agricultural waste through water sources.
Chilean hake
Although Chilean hake is a fish species rich in omega 3, you should also limit the consumption of this type of fish because it has a very high level of mercury, exceeding the allowed level up to 86% that readers should consider choosing. Snowy hake is still safe, but it should only be eaten once a week and no other seafood should be eaten.
Recommendations for each type of fish:
Fatty fish: including salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, trout… Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help prevent heart disease and is a rich source of vitamin D. Canned sardines and salmon increase calcium and phosphorus because you can eat the fish bones.
Each person should eat at least 140g of fatty fish per week. Pregnant women or breastfeeding should not eat more than 280g. Men and non-pregnant women can eat up to 560g of fatty fish per week.
White meat fish: like hake, haddock, monkfish, sea bream… White meat fish is low in fat and provides omega-3 fatty acids but in smaller amounts than fatty fish.
Generally, you can eat as much white meat fish as you like, but with sharks and swordfish, be careful not to eat more than 140g. Children, pregnant women, or those planning to conceive should avoid these two types of fish because they contain more mercury than other types.
In addition, shrimp, crab, clams, oysters… are rich in selenium, zinc, iodine, and low in fat. So you can consume these seafood freely.
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