Fish, the nearly perfect health food for most, is likely unsafe for most to regularly eat. According to a report, nine U.S. chlorine factories are among the nation's largest sources of mercury, one of the most hazardous and ubiquitous contaminants. Emissions from these chlorine factories and power plants travel thousands of miles in the air and drop into oceans and lakes, building up in the tissues of animals, such as seafood products and people.
Most chlorine is produced using mercury-free technologies, however, the nine factories discussed in the report use a process that pumps saltwater solution through a vat of mercury to set off a chemical reaction. These factories could be polluting as much, if not more, mercury than the power companies are.
In fact, in 2002, chlorine factories each reported emitting an average of 1,097 pounds of mercury into the air, five times more than the average power plant.
"Missing" Mercury Concern
A major concern highlighted in the report centered on the "long-overlooked" source of mercury polluting the air. It seems much of the mercury these nine chlorine plants release into the environment each year is largely unknown and unaccounted for in the companies' annual inventories. While emissions from smokestacks and vents are measured with great accuracy, fugitive emissions (unmonitored leaks from the mercury vats) are difficult to measure.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working with the chlorine industry to resolve the mercury issue: It has been suspected that the "missing mercury" is trapped inside the plants' piping, tanks and processing equipment, rather than being polluted into the environment.
Though regardless of where the unaccounted mercury is being emitted, mercury pollution remains a concern in the United States:
One in every six babies, which is more than 600,000 a year, is born to a mother with a mercury level over what is regarded safe for a fetus
Mercury is known to interfere with brain development
The FDA has advised pregnant women or women who are nursing or may become pregnant to avoid eating large marine predators including: swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel and to not exceed more than 12 ounces of other fish per week
Indianapolis Star January 30, 2005
The article above supports the fact that, while fish would be one of the healthiest foods on the planet, nearly all sources are contaminated with mercury, making them unsafe to eat for most of us.
Part of the problem stems from stubborn chlorine factories that insist on manufacturing chlorine using an unsafe process that pollutes the environment with mercury. It's this complete disregard for the public's safety that is a large contribution to the reasons why it is nearly impossible to find a fish that is not contaminated with mercury, PCBs and dioxins.
My Fish Recommendations
Whether the fish comes from the ocean, restaurant, a farm or canned in a grocery store, I'd strongly advise against eating most of it. This is because fish contain a number of toxic substances besides mercury including PCBs, radioactive materials like strontium and toxic metals like lead, chromium, arsenic and cadmium. Such toxins have become a large part of our fish supply and have been a contributor to severe health issues, including:
That is why I suggest avoiding fish consumption unless you know it has been laboratory-tested and proven to be free from mercury and other toxins. The typical rule of thumb when considering fish consumption: The larger the fish, the more mercury and PCBs it will have. Small fish like sardines, however, are typically mercury- and PCB-free.
If you really enjoy the taste of fish, you may want to consider wild Pacific salmon. It isn't the easiest salmon to find as most salmon is farmed Atlantic salmon. If you have trouble finding it we have tested a brand of Alaskan Wild Red Salmon from Vital Choice, several times now and have found it to be free from mercury contamination and the toxic substances listed above.
Further, high-quality fish/cod liver oil is a great way to reap the benefits of fish without eating them (to protect yourself from disease and live longer). Ideally, you should have your vitamin D levels tested to determine if and when you should take cod liver oil, which contains vitamin D. But most of us can safely take it in the less than sunny winter months.
Most fish oil supplements, like the Carlson brand of fish oil/cod liver oil -- which I highly recommend go through a molecular distillation process to clean out the mercury. The Carlson brand also is routinely tested using standard international protocols in an independent, FDA registered laboratory; this testing not only ensures freedom from detectable levels of mercury, but also cadmium, lead, PCBs and 28 other contaminants. If you can't find the Carlson brand in your local health food store or a brand as good, we do offer it in our store for your convenience.
Related Articles:
Most of the U.S. Fish Supply Contains Harmful Levels of Mercury More Than 300,000 Newborns Get Mercury From Fish Every Year Mercury Pollutes Nation's Rivers, Lakes Heart Disease Linked to Mercury-Contaminated Fish High Levels of Toxic Mercury Found in Fish-Eaters FDA Approves Fish Oil For Heart Disease
Most of the U.S. Fish Supply Contains Harmful Levels of Mercury
More Than 300,000 Newborns Get Mercury From Fish Every Year
Mercury Pollutes Nation's Rivers, Lakes
Heart Disease Linked to Mercury-Contaminated Fish
High Levels of Toxic Mercury Found in Fish-Eaters
FDA Approves Fish Oil For Heart Disease