Mercury in fish

[Guest guest]

The attorney general forces five grocery chains to warn customers

about mercury in fish...Why cant they force pediatricans to warn

parents about mercury in Vaccines!!

Attorney General Lockyer Pushes Grocers to Warn Consumers about

Mercury in Fish

Warnings Would Cover Tuna, Swordfish and Shark

January 17, 2003

03-010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(916) 324-5500

(SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today moved to force

five

grocery chains to warn customers that tuna, swordfish and shark sold

in their markets contain mercury, which is known by the state to

cause

cancer and reproductive harm.

The five stores include Safeway, Kroger's, Albertson's, Trader Joe's

and Whole Foods. In a complaint filed in San Francisco Superior

Court,

the Attorney General's Office alleges the grocers have violated

Proposition 65, the ballot initiative enacted by voters in 1986. The

law requires businesses to provide " clear and reasonable " warnings

before exposing people to known carcinogens and reproductive toxins.

The action is not intended to discourage people from eating fish, but

to ensure people make informed decisions about what they are eating.

" Generally, fish are an important source of protein and play a

prominent role in many Californians' diet, " said Lockyer. " But

consumers deserve to know when they are being exposed to chemicals

that can cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm. Public

health agencies have advised pregnant women not to eat swordfish and

shark because those fish contain relatively high levels of mercury. "

Methylmercury compounds have been listed under Proposition 65 as a

chemical known to cause cancer since 1996, and methylmercury has been

listed as a known reproductive toxin since 1987. Mercury and mercury

compounds have been listed as known reproductive toxins since 1990.

Swordfish, ahi tuna, albacore tuna and shark contain mercury,

methymercury and their compounds. Those substances are ingested by

people who eat the fish.

The complaint alleges the five grocery chains have failed to post a

Proposition 65 warning for customers who want to buy the fish. The

suit asks the court to prohibit the stores from selling the fish

until

they post the required warning. The complaint does not cover canned

tuna.

The state also is seeking civil penalties for violations of

Proposition 65 and the state's Unfair Competition Act. Under both

laws, each defendant is liable for civil penalties of up to $2,500

per

day for each violation. The complaint alleges the defendants have

failed to comply with Proposition 65 since as far back as 1988.

Here are some important facts about mercury and fish:

* Fish absorb methymercury from water as they eat aquatic

organisms. Mercury is released into the air, then falls into surface

water, and ultimately accumulates in streams and oceans. Bacteria in

water transforms mercury into methymercury.

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001 advised

pregnant women, and women of child-bearing age who may become

pregnant, not to eat swordfish and shark because they contain high

levels of methylmercury.

* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has advised pregnant

women, and women of child-bearing age who may become pregnant, to eat

no more than an average of 12 ounces of fish per week.

* The primary reproductive danger posed by methylmercury in fish

is to the nervous system of the unborn child, according to the FDA.

* In a one-year survey of internal medicine patients in San

Francisco, a significant number of patients had diets high in fish

consumption. A large percentage of those patients, including women

and

children, " had blood mercury levels exceeding the maximum level

recommended by the U.S. EPA and National Academy of Sciences. " (2002

study by Jane M. Hightower, M.D.)

* Fish such as lake trout, salmon and bass are less likely to

contain harmful levels of mercury if they are small and young.

* Proper cleaning and cooking of fish reduces the health risk from

chemical pollutants.

# # # #

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[Guest guest]

> The attorney general forces five grocery chains to warn customers

> about mercury in fish...Why cant they force pediatricans to warn

> parents about mercury in Vaccines!!

In California, this might actually be a " good " angle to use.

Proposition 65 is very broad, and seems it might apply.

Dentists have to have patients sign that they have been

given information about the risks etc for dental materials.

(This changed fairly recently--- last couple of years).

good wishes,

Moria

>

>

>

> Attorney General Lockyer Pushes Grocers to Warn Consumers about

> Mercury in Fish

> Warnings Would Cover Tuna, Swordfish and Shark

>

> January 17, 2003

> 03-010

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

> (916) 324-5500

>

> (SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today moved to force

> five

> grocery chains to warn customers that tuna, swordfish and shark

sold

> in their markets contain mercury, which is known by the state to

> cause

> cancer and reproductive harm.

>

> The five stores include Safeway, Kroger's, Albertson's, Trader

Joe's

> and Whole Foods. In a complaint filed in San Francisco Superior

> Court,

> the Attorney General's Office alleges the grocers have violated

> Proposition 65, the ballot initiative enacted by voters in 1986.

The

> law requires businesses to provide " clear and reasonable " warnings

> before exposing people to known carcinogens and reproductive

toxins.

>

> The action is not intended to discourage people from eating fish,

but

> to ensure people make informed decisions about what they are

eating.

>

> " Generally, fish are an important source of protein and play a

> prominent role in many Californians' diet, " said Lockyer. " But

> consumers deserve to know when they are being exposed to chemicals

> that can cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm. Public

> health agencies have advised pregnant women not to eat swordfish

and

> shark because those fish contain relatively high levels of

mercury. "

>

> Methylmercury compounds have been listed under Proposition 65 as a

> chemical known to cause cancer since 1996, and methylmercury has

been

> listed as a known reproductive toxin since 1987. Mercury and

mercury

> compounds have been listed as known reproductive toxins since 1990.

> Swordfish, ahi tuna, albacore tuna and shark contain mercury,

> methymercury and their compounds. Those substances are ingested by

> people who eat the fish.

>

> The complaint alleges the five grocery chains have failed to post a

> Proposition 65 warning for customers who want to buy the fish. The

> suit asks the court to prohibit the stores from selling the fish

> until

> they post the required warning. The complaint does not cover

canned

> tuna.

>

> The state also is seeking civil penalties for violations of

> Proposition 65 and the state's Unfair Competition Act. Under both

> laws, each defendant is liable for civil penalties of up to $2,500

> per

> day for each violation. The complaint alleges the defendants have

> failed to comply with Proposition 65 since as far back as 1988.

>

> Here are some important facts about mercury and fish:

>

> * Fish absorb methymercury from water as they eat aquatic

> organisms. Mercury is released into the air, then falls into

surface

> water, and ultimately accumulates in streams and oceans. Bacteria

in

> water transforms mercury into methymercury.

>

>

> * The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001 advised

> pregnant women, and women of child-bearing age who may become

> pregnant, not to eat swordfish and shark because they contain high

> levels of methylmercury.

>

>

> * The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has advised pregnant

> women, and women of child-bearing age who may become pregnant, to

eat

> no more than an average of 12 ounces of fish per week.

>

>

> * The primary reproductive danger posed by methylmercury in fish

> is to the nervous system of the unborn child, according to the FDA.

>

>

> * In a one-year survey of internal medicine patients in San

> Francisco, a significant number of patients had diets high in fish

> consumption. A large percentage of those patients, including women

> and

> children, " had blood mercury levels exceeding the maximum level

> recommended by the U.S. EPA and National Academy of Sciences. "

(2002

> study by Jane M. Hightower, M.D.)

>

>

> * Fish such as lake trout, salmon and bass are less likely to

> contain harmful levels of mercury if they are small and young.

>

>

> * Proper cleaning and cooking of fish reduces the health risk from

> chemical pollutants.

>

> # # # #

> BACK

> OFFICE OF THE AG | PROGRAMS & SERVICES | NEWS & ALERTS |

PUBLICATIONS

> | CONTACT US | SEARCH

> REGISTERING WITH US | CAREER OPPORTUNITIES | LINKS TO STATE SITES

> Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | © 2001 DOJ

[Guest guest]

Hi Kari,

I saw the same show last night. When can they publicly put it all together

for us!!! It was very eerie and interesting to hear the little boy's

symptoms. It seems to be such a covert subject. You are right...it

doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. It was interesting how

this little boy improved with merely removing the fish in his diet. It just

goes to show you that there is definitely a genetic methylation problem with

a certain population of children. Kathy(Colin's Mom age 8 Autism)

[ ] Mercury in Fish

>

> I just saw a local show about the problems caused by mercury in the air

and by eating fish. It was almost eerie. Because on one hand they did a

good job of creating awareness, yet it seemed to be so controlled almost to

not cross the vaccine or amalgam line. Opened up with a story of a boy that

was definitely effected by the mercury in fish, and the heroics of an astute

doctor who figured it all out. The doctor actually said, " mercury is not

rocket science stuff. You stop eating it and it goes away " . For the most

part it did with this child. But that statement could not be further from

the truth. Much of the talk was in how California's plan to put something

in place for air control should be done much sooner than the proposed 2018

date. And restaurants here now have agreed to put up signs showing that

pregnant women should not eat fish. They are pushing to do so in

supermarkets with tuna too-but that's not going over so well with the

industry leaders.

> Again, the horrors of mercury and no mention of the other sources. Made

me think, I wonder if the way to let the mercury-is-EVIL cat out of the bag

isn't a master plan to put all the blame on the fish and air? Therefore

being " proactive " about raising the flag of the potential harms all the

while trying to sweep the real problems under the carpet. So much emphasis

on the harm mercury to an unborn fetus can cause. Now it doesn't take a

rocket scientist to realize leaky amalgams or thimerosal might also get

passed along to the fetus too? And if not a fetus, a less than one day old

baby with a dose of thimerosal?

> Kari

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's only a matter of time until " We the People " do like former government

vaccine panel member Neal Halsey did and figure out that if it's bad to breathe

mercury and eat mercury maybe it's bad to directly inject it directly into the

thighs of our babies?

I salute anyone trying to get the word out about mercury. This needs to be the

national debate not only because it is an environmental issue, but because it is

a medical issue with a direct impact on healthcare costs, including the recovery

of children represented by their parents here on this board.

Cap and trade, as proposed by YKW, contradicts the intelligent counsel of

various government advisory panels, does not address the mercury issue

appropriately or timely to protect large populations from elevated daily mercury

exposures for 13 years. What's more is the fact that the current plan proposed

by YKW was actually authored by the mercury polluting industry lobby. The same

lobby with the pat yourself on the back hacking eagle commercials.

Here where I am in ville, WTLV-12, a local TV station, investigated and

learned that in 1997 a coal-fired power plant spewed 2000 Lbs of mercury our

into our air. With cap and trade, major polluters will continue to operate with

no mercury reduction required. Cap and trade allows heavy polluters to " buy "

mercury emissions " credits " from low polluting....polluters. So everybody that

wants to keep spewing mercury can keep doing it without penalties or fines.

Locally this means that a population of 1.5 million people that live within the

primary emissions fallout area will continue to have the second most toxic

substance on the face of the earth showering down on them.

[ ] Mercury in Fish

I just saw a local show about the problems caused by mercury in the air and by

eating fish. It was almost eerie. Because on one hand they did a good job of

creating awareness, yet it seemed to be so controlled almost to not cross the

vaccine or amalgam line. Opened up with a story of a boy that was definitely

effected by the mercury in fish, and the heroics of an astute doctor who figured

it all out. The doctor actually said, " mercury is not rocket science stuff.

You stop eating it and it goes away " . For the most part it did with this child.

But that statement could not be further from the truth. Much of the talk was

in how California's plan to put something in place for air control should be

done much sooner than the proposed 2018 date. And restaurants here now have

agreed to put up signs showing that pregnant women should not eat fish. They

are pushing to do so in supermarkets with tuna too-but that's not going over so

well with the industry leaders.

Again, the horrors of mercury and no mention of the other sources. Made me

think, I wonder if the way to let the mercury-is-EVIL cat out of the bag isn't a

master plan to put all the blame on the fish and air? Therefore being

" proactive " about raising the flag of the potential harms all the while trying

to sweep the real problems under the carpet. So much emphasis on the harm

mercury to an unborn fetus can cause. Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to

realize leaky amalgams or thimerosal might also get passed along to the fetus

too? And if not a fetus, a less than one day old baby with a dose of

thimerosal?

Kari