A recent government study of approximately 300 rivers and streams found mercury prevalent in all of the fish tested. Mercury is a metal. The substance is toxic and wreaks havoc on the nervous system, can lead to insanity and a host of other degenerative conditions.
The study by the U.S. Geological Survey is the most comprehensive look to date at mercury in the nation’s streams. From 1998 to 2005, scientists collected and tested more than a thousand fish, including bass, trout and catfish, from 291 streams nationwide.
Some of the highest mercury levels in fish were detected in the remote blackwater streams along the coasts of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana, where bacteria in surrounding forests and wetlands help in the conversion. The second-highest concentration of mercury was detected in largemouth bass from the North Fork of the Edisto River near Fairview Crossroads, S.C.
“Unfortunately, it’s the case that almost any fish you test will have mercury now,” said Andrew Rypel, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Mississippi who has studied mercury contamination in fish throughout the Southeast. He said other research has shown mercury in fish from isolated areas of Alaska and Canada, and species that live in the deep ocean.
It has been suggested to prepare the fish in a way which will lessen exposure to mercury. I question that. Mercury is systemic toxic, meaning it will be in the tissue of the fish itself. For example you cannot ‘rinse it away’. Apply caution when eating fish. Some reports suggest eating it once a week. But it might be better to eat is less frequently.
Click here to check the fish advisories where you live.
Eat to Live!