Japanese and Italian people seem to be living long and healthy lives. What do these cultures separated by an entire continent have in common? Both include huge amounts of fish in their cuisine. But is fish still safe to eat? People are worried about mercury contamination, but a new study from the University of Waterloo showed that the benefits of consuming traditional foods still outweigh the risks.
Mercury in fish occurs naturally, but higher levels of it can damage the heart and nervous system. Image credit: Tomascastelazo via Wikimedia(CC BY-SA 3.0)
Scientists analysed 443 blood samples and 276 hair samples to see how much mercury is in the participants’ bodies. They found that in general mercury levels are pretty low, which is good news, because mercury is quite toxic and may cause significant nerve damage over longer periods of time. Researchers used a Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess fish intake of 170 people. They found that people usually ate fish in late summer and less of this delicious food in the colder part of the year. While mercury levels in hair did follow the same seasonal pattern and peaked in autumn, the levels were still quite low.
For most people it is not even a concern – how often do you eat fish? However, some communities rely on fish way more than the others. These coastal communities are worried about food contamination and are looking for answers whether their traditional food is still safe. Previous studies found elevated levels of mercury in some fish species in some lakes, which got people from around those lakes worried. However, now scientists can share these findings as good news.
Sara Packull-McCormick, one of the authors of the study, said: “The good news is that generally, the exposure in communities we studied was low. It means the benefits of consuming these foods tend to outweigh the risks, which is important for these communities since fish consumption has nutritional, cultural, and economic benefits.”
Mercury in fish is actually a natural phenomenon, even if human activity is worsening this problem. Mercury evaporates and then falls from the air and is collected in streams, lakes, and oceans as methylmercury. Fish gather methylmercury as they feed. The problem is that mercury doesn’t leave the body that easily and is accumulated over time to a point where it can increase risk of cardiovascular disease and neurodevelopmental impairment. But so far the traditional fish dishes seem safe and actually beneficial.
Fish is actually good for you. It contains important amino acids and vitamins that slow down aging, strengthen the immune system, and help fend off cancer. However, people are worried about the mercury accumulation in their bodies. So far, it seems that most fish is safe to eat and the benefits significantly outweigh the risks.
Source: University of Waterloo
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