Do you worry about Methyl Mercury and limit your intake of fish caught?

I thought the increased mercury levels in Calero, Chesbro, Almaden, etc were due to the quicksilver mines?

PK

That is a very localized area. What I am talking about is the Andersons and Stevens Creeks of the bay area. They all experienced increases. Not to mention San Francisco bay and Delta.

Randy:

Could you share your research sites?

Thanks.

Can't share all of them because I was googling/surfing purely to satisfy my own curiosity.  I didn't anticipate participating in this discussion.  I did bookmark a few, though.

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/reprints/mercury.html

http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/hg/index.html

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/wp/other/councils/mercury/index.html

http://www.mercuryfacts.org/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3189257.stm

http://www.suanews.com/articles/1993/mercuryinfishunreportedhoax.htm

http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/Press/reports/mercury_in_perspective.pdf

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=18136

Thanks!

Great links Randy! It really helps to hear many different opinons and sources of facts and then make our own conclusions.

Z

 I'm addicted to canned albacore and I wondered how dangerous it might be to continue to eat tuna salad several times a week. What I found allowed me to continue to do so without experiencing anxiety each time I reached for the can opener
Randy

Randy,I used to eat 5 cans a week for 4yrs+....then read about the amounts of it,unmeasured by the companies.How many cans can I eat a week "safely?" I sure do mis it!

How many cans can I eat a week "safely?" I sure do mis it!

If you can go to the doctor and get a blood test to see if you have elevated amounts of mercury that should disspell any "facts" that are in the news. I mean if you eat that much tuna it should show if there's a lot of mercury in the fish. And if not you tuna salad days will never end.. whooo!

Z

Thanks Z Thats what I'm trying to avoid.....they might find something I dont want to know about.Kinda like mechanics when you take your car in...there gonna keep looking til they find something so they can bill the insurance for some $$$.    
Good looking out!! and thats what I will ultimately be doing 

Thanks Z Thats what I'm trying to avoid.....

 

It does seem like the mecury test from the doctor is the way to go.

I'm sure it has been said before, but the mercury deal is least important for adult males.  You would have to eat a lot of very mercury loaded fish for it to make any difference.

I just flat don't think about it.

It is more dangerous to get in your car to drive to the lake than to eat the fish.

MolBasser

The way I see it, if one thing doesn't getcha, something else will.  I don't worry about it one bit.

If there's enough merc in the fish, you can catch 'em with a magnet.
BTW, how clean are rockfish from the ocean or flounder from the bay?

decided to take your head out of the sand, eh, guitarzan? I thought you were going the
ignorance route? ignorance is bliss, baby.

you are always fine with those planted trout, at least you should be as they were raised in
a hatchery and fed with mercury-free food.

btw, I don't think mercury is magnetic, that is only iron? I wouldn't hassle you with this,
but I seen my 9 year old give another kid heck for getting that wrong!

I believe that the bay is not so good, the ocean rockfish are much better, but you gotta wonder
about fish right outside the golden gate?

I have pretty much decided to eat only the planted or ocean fish.

I don't care so much for myself, I mean I am old and have successfully reproduced, but I would not
want my kids eating tainted food or seeing any other kids or young folks doing same.

J

Head in the sand?!! Ha! I didnt want to pipe in because seriously, I have been in the trades for over 20 years with commercial painting, ironworking, roofing and with all the lead and methlyl ethyl keytone and whatever, mercury from fish at 45 years old just isnt a big worry for me, but I do find the arguments somewhat riveting. Besides, I dont like to eat bay fish much either, maybe a flounder or small striper. I would eat some sturg if I could only land a keeper.
And the last thing I would want is discusions like this to end. Squeaky wheels get the grease. You go boy!
Ben.