State places caveat on fish consumption
16 October 2007US - State health officials used to say that any Alaskan could eat an unlimited amount of fish from state waters without a risk of heavy metal contamination. But their advice has changed.
Alaska women of childbearing age and small children should limit their consumption of a few fish types -- large halibut, shark, large lingcod, yelloweye rockfish and spiny dogfish -- due to their mercury levels, state officials said this morning.
The state changed its advice due to mercury contamination reported in February in species that hadn't been tested before, and in larger-sized specimens of previously-tested species.
The state also today unveiled a "fish diet calculator" to help families to keep track of how much fish from the risky group they can eat per week, or per month, to minimize the health risk.
Recent scientific studies show mercury can harm children's brain development.
Source: AnchorageDailyNews
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