Should the Risks of Fish Intake Override the Benefits? Essay

Mercury is an element that can be found in our environment through air, water and soil. Being exposed to constant levels of mercury may be detrimental to one’s overall health since it can impact the nervous, digestive and immune systems of human (WHO). In 1960, the demand of Mercury (Hg) increased significantly as it was needed in many commercial and medical practices, despite its high toxicity levels (dwivedi). Thus, the increase in mercury consumption was due to industrialization. Mercury should be gaining increased medical concerns as it can impact the lives of several classes of society. In Canada, it is found that the vast majority of marine mammals contain methylmercury (MeHg) (Laird). Methylmercury is highly more lethal than Mercury

Readings from the late 1980s in the northern-tier states of the U.S. states found that fish, mostly from nutrient-poor lakes and commonly in very isolated areas, commonly have high levels of mercury. More recent fish selection surveys in other regions of the U.S. have shown widespread mercury contamination in streams, wet-lands, lakes.

What is so bad about mercury? It’s a neurotoxin. This means that it acts against the nervous system, and can lead to fatal health effects.

The study was based on a 20 years of research wherein Bioanalytical chemistry and Chemical pathology Professor Martin Grootveld of De Montfort University noted that frying fish with corn or sunflower oil had more toxic aldehydes than what is safe. He explained that oils undergo chemical reaction when heated-oils rich in polyunsaturated fats produce larger amounts of aldehydes while those rich in monounsaturated fats generate less, and saturated fats the least.

To further complicate issues the meat taken in through the slaughter provides toxic meat to the local population and is also distributed throughout the country to consumers who are largely unaware of the high levels of mercury. Concentrations of these pollutants are found in the meat and blubber and can reach 85 times the safe limits for consumption of methyl mercury and 140 times the safe limit for PCBs (Endo,

For subdomains I and II, no recommendations could be identified. The primary challenges in these zones is the connection of achieving site wide remedial objectives, and decisions and actions. Another recommendation is to invest in basic research for the possibility of decommissioning buildings and to remediate soil, limiting the mercury in the food chain (Looney, 2008). The workshop had greater success in subdomain III, identifying several recommendations. Because mercury input in surface water happens in this subdomain, the workshop determined that stannous chloride could be used to treat water in NS pipes, and sodium thiosulfate could be used as a dechlorinating agent. With access to the water and the use of chemistry, alternative strategies of reducing methylmercury in fish are available (Looney, 2008). Finally, the workshop had also identified recommendations in subdomain IV. The workshop noted that the addition of trace Se could be used to reduce methylation uptake while potentially maintaining low fish tissue levels. The workshop also noted that through other technology, physical modifications such as bank stabilization and channel relocation could be a possibility

cold water/oily fish and fish oils (e.g., salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, sardines, anchovies); fresh fish is better, as freezing destroys some of the EFA; avoid consumption of fish that may be high in mercury

Metals that settle in the stream bed can be transported by bioaccumulation. If contaminated fish is consumed, metals may be transferred to humans and impact their physical health. Human are exposed to the toxic metals by drinking water contaminated by sediments [EPA 35].

It has been almost 60 years since the most horrific mercury poisoning disaster the world has ever seen took place in Minamata, Japan. On May 1956, four patients from the city of Minamata were admitted to the hospital with similar severe baffling symptoms. They all suffered from high fever, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and finally death. Soon afterward, 13 other patients from a neighboring fishing village near Minamata suffered the same symptoms and also died ( Juan, 2006). As time went on more and more people became ill and died. It was finally determined that the cause was mercury poisoning that was dumped into the Minamata bay on a massive scale by a chemical plant. The mercury contaminated the water and fish. The people ate the fish

The menhaden is a small, oily, fish found in coastal and estuarine waters from Nova Scotia to northern Florida. The menhaden’s small size but extreme oiliness makes it the most popular fishery export in America. Because of this, menhaden oil is used in hundreds of products, from omega 3 fatty acid supplements and cosmetics to fish meal, which is fed to livestock. The need for menhaden product is strong, but overuse causes challenges. Overfishing of the menhaden is an enormous problem, especially in the Chesapeake Bay. Menhaden are fished in huge numbers, with the majority being fished at a very young age, which means the species is not reproducing at a rate proportionate to its rate of death. The overfishing of menhaden, a Chesapeake keystone species, causes low population in important predatory species, an imbalanced ecosystem, and a struggling local economy.

The article describes briefly how the mercury ends up in the fish we eat, how the rain grabs the mercury from the atmosphere and deposits it into the lakes and oceans. Because of the food chain, the largest of the aquatic animals will have the highest amount of mercury, whales and sharks for example. So, communities high in whale and shark consumption will show the greatest risk of mercury poisoning.

There was evidence of heavy metal biomagnification as the levels of heavy metals in fish exceeded the concentration in water samples although the metal levels do not exceed WHO and USEPA guidelines. This is in agreement with the findings by Olaifa et al, where the heavy metal concentrations were within safe limits for human consumption. However, this finding is in contrast with other studies, Usman (2011) and Muiruri, (2013) where the heavy metal concentration in fish was beyond the permissible limits and therefore not fit for human consumption (Javed. & Usman, 2011).

Seafood is low in saturated fat and high in omega-3, which is great for heart and reduces heart diseases

6. FISHES- Fish oil is one way to get omega-3s, but the Harvard Men's Health Watch points out that eating fish provides other important nutrients like selenium, antioxidants, and protein. What's more, people who eat fish tend to consume less meat and cheese, and they may add other healthy foods to their diets, such as vegetables and brown rice. But there is a small "catch" to this potent health food. Fish may absorb contaminants found in the waters. Methyl mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are of particular concern. The Harvard Men's Health Watch explains that while pregnant women and children should limit intake of high-mercury species — swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, among others — eating these fish is much less worrisome for adults. Farmed fish such as salmon have little mercury, but they may have PCBs. The Harvard Men's Health Watch recommends removing the skin and fat before cooking to minimize exposure.

At the same time, many people will not be willing to eat fish due to the smell. In that situation they will choose to eat the fish oil instead; however, fish oil is counted as part of the fish, but eating fish oil instead instead of fresh fish sometime will cause the baby unhealthy. Christ Kresser is the writer of the article “The Fish vs. Fish Oil Smackdown”, he indicates, “Fish contain not only EPA and DHA, but also vitamin D, selenium, protein, co-factors and a more complete fatty acid profile than fish oil. Selenium, in particular, is important because it protects against mercury toxicity, vitamin D protects against nearly every modern disease plaguing us today. A 6 oz. portion of wild salmon contains 1,700 IU of D, which is difficult to obtain in that amount from other dietary sources” (Kresser). Besides, he illustrates, “Fish oil: most oils contain only EPA and DHA, although salmon and cod liver oil also contain moderate amounts of vitamin D. Fish oil has a more limited fatty acid profile than whole fish, and doesn’t contain selenium” (Kresser). According to Kresser’s comparison, fish have a lot of nutrition which fish oil do not have and can not be add to it. Most importantly, although eating fish oil is a very convenience than cooking a fish, fresh fish can provide more safe nutrition to the mother and the baby. Therefore, many experts or doctors will recommend pregnant to eat more fresh fish, and they all illustrates that although fish is count as seafood, fish contain a lot of nutrient that other seafood do not have, such as