Too much fish risky for fetuses: Taiwan study

[Guest guest]

When will researchers put 2 and 2 together?

Anne

Thu Dec 28, 3:36 AM ET

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Pregnant women who eat fish more than three times a

week could be putting their baby at risk because of higher mercury levels in

their blood, according to a study by Taiwanese researchers.

Mercury exposure is especially risky for fetuses when their internal organs

are developing, and can result in neuronal, kidney and brain damage, and

stunt growth.

Expectant Chinese mothers tend to eat more fish as they believe it is

healthier than red or white meat.

A study of 65 pregnant women in Taipei found mercury concentrations of

around 9.1 micrograms per liter in their blood and around 10 micrograms per

liter in blood in their umbilical cords. The researchers also found an

average of 19 nanograms per gram of mercury in their placenta.

Such levels were way over what are considered safe, the researchers wrote in

a paper to be published in January in the International Journal of

Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Eighty-nine percent had blood mercury concentrations exceeding the US

National Research Council's recommended value of 5.8 micrograms per liter.

The women were recruited for the study 24 weeks into their pregnancy.

" When a woman consumes fish, it is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract

and enters the bloodstream. The trace elements of mercury, or methylmercury,

the commonly found form of mercury in fish, passes through the placenta and

then to the fetus, " the researchers said.

The US Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women to avoid eating

fish with high mercury levels such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and

tilefish.

Instead, it recommends fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury, such as

shrimp and tilapia.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061228/hl_nm/pregnancy_fish_dc

[Guest guest]

Thank you for posting this study, imagine being born with that level

of mercury, and then getting more of it from vaccines and the

enviornment. It's like these kids don't have a chance!

Nagla

>

> When will researchers put 2 and 2 together?

>

> Anne

>

> Thu Dec 28, 3:36 AM ET

> HONG KONG (Reuters) - Pregnant women who eat fish more than three

times a

> week could be putting their baby at risk because of higher mercury

levels in

> their blood, according to a study by Taiwanese researchers.

> Mercury exposure is especially risky for fetuses when their

internal organs

> are developing, and can result in neuronal, kidney and brain

damage, and

> stunt growth.

>

> Expectant Chinese mothers tend to eat more fish as they believe it

is

> healthier than red or white meat.

> A study of 65 pregnant women in Taipei found mercury concentrations

of

> around 9.1 micrograms per liter in their blood and around 10

micrograms per

> liter in blood in their umbilical cords. The researchers also found

an

> average of 19 nanograms per gram of mercury in their placenta.

> Such levels were way over what are considered safe, the researchers

wrote in

> a paper to be published in January in the International Journal of

> Obstetrics and Gynecology.

> Eighty-nine percent had blood mercury concentrations exceeding the

US

> National Research Council's recommended value of 5.8 micrograms per

liter.

> The women were recruited for the study 24 weeks into their

pregnancy.

> " When a woman consumes fish, it is absorbed in the gastrointestinal

tract

> and enters the bloodstream. The trace elements of mercury, or

methylmercury,

> the commonly found form of mercury in fish, passes through the

placenta and

> then to the fetus, " the researchers said.

> The US Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women to avoid

eating

> fish with high mercury levels such as shark, swordfish, king

mackerel and

> tilefish.

> Instead, it recommends fish and shellfish that are lower in

mercury, such as

> shrimp and tilapia.

> http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061228/hl_nm/pregnancy_fish_dc

>