VDA #5

1. Find a reliable website that can offer pregnant women information about mercury in seafood and will give suggestions as to serving sizes and frequencies that are safe for consumption.

Http://www.epa.gov/hg/advisories.htm

2. Using what you find in the website that you research and what you've read in the article, write a paragraph of at least 6 sentences that explains what mercury is, what it can do to pregnant women and how they can prevent these problems while pregnant.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element (Hg on the periodic table) that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. Elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal and is liquid at room temperature. If heated, it is a colorless, odorless gas.    

     

Health effects of mercury. Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages. Research shows that most people's fish consumption does not cause a health concern. However, it has been demonstrated that high levels of 

methylmercury in the bloodstream of unborn babies and young children may harm the developing nervous system, making the child less able to think and learn. 

 The FDA/EPA Fish Consumption Advisory informs women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the parents of young children about how to get the positive health benefits from eating fish and shellfish lower in mercury (for example, shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish), while minimizing mercury exposure by avoiding types of fish that are higher in mercury (for example, shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel).