Fish-mercury alerts by state are alarmist
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is mistaken in issuing warnings about traces of mercury found in walleye and other fish. (“Mercury-tainted fish found in two more Colorado lakes,” May 4).
The department is using a mercury standard of 0.5 parts-per-million (ppm) to determine whether fish are safe to eat. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s standard is only half as restrictive, allowing fish up to 1.0 ppm to be sold. And the FDA writes that this 1.0 ppm “Action Level” is actually “10 times lower than the lowest levels associated with adverse effects” to human health. That means the department’s mercury standard has a twentyfold safety cushion built in.
Worse, the department is ignoring the best science on the subject. In March, the prestigious medical journal The Lancet published a major government-funded study that found no justification for government fish-mercury warnings. Of the thousands of young mothers in this research, those who ate the most fish during their pregnancies — mercury and all — gave birth to children with the highest IQs.
Serious mercury science is finally moving past the activist sound bite.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shouldn’t be giving fish the skull-and-crossbones treatment.
David Martosko, Washington, D.C.
Director of research, Center for Consumer Freedom
As a taxpayer and outdoors person, I think it's appropriate for the State to sample the fish from popular fishing spots and let us know if the results are anomalously high for mercury and other toxins. People who think the State's action levels are too restrictive are free to ignore the warnings. However, I think there are a lot of people who appreciate knowing which lakes are significantly less than pristine when it comes to mercury.
Posted by karen on May 10, 2007 12:47 AMDavid Martosko of Washinton DC, do you think that our Federal Government has ever downplayed the health effects from environmental hazards to the detriment of the population? Have thay ever decieved us? Do you really think the people of this country believe our government officials? Try this out.... "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" LOL! Get a grip Pal.
Posted by Harry on May 10, 2007 06:04 AM"The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition of restaurants, food companies, and consumers working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices. "
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/about.cfm
Is it no surprise that Mr. Martosko - from Washington - is trying to tell us there's no reason to be concerned about the mercury levels in fish - in Colorado. It's rather obvious where his interests are.
Posted by on May 10, 2007 08:33 AMI don't know what a "safe" level for mercury is, but I do know that less is safer. The only way to get less mercury in the environment is to burn less coal, the main source of mercury. Perhaps Mr. Martosko should spend his time getting restaurants to conserve watts..
Posted by Liam on May 10, 2007 08:37 AMHarry- i did not realize that a president now 6+ years out of office was involved in reporting possible health hazards or that misstatements, lies, whatever you please accumulated in the tissues of fish to the detriment of those who eat the fish.Stay focused, stay on the subject and maybe next time try coming up with some more current mendacities like maybe Saddam's WMDs which have only cost 3000+ young Americans and Iraqis we can't be bothered to count because they're only inconvenient brown people and chose to live in the wrong country at the wrong time anyway.
Posted by patrick on May 10, 2007 08:38 AMYou know, the restaurant industry is already getting a free ride by having customers pay their wait staff's salaries through tips. Now they're complaining because the feds add a safety cushion when estimating danger levels in our food supply??
Give someone an inch, and they inevitably want a mile...
Posted by mytwosense on May 10, 2007 09:17 AMBy the way, it is the omega-3 fatty acids in certain fish that are often cited as "brain food" nutrients, i.e., possibly leading to higher IQs in children.
If you're not a big fish eater, or just want to balance out your sources of this nutrient, you can also get omega-3 fatty acids from flax-seed oil (the best non-meat source), nuts, seeds, and some leafy green vegetables. Here's more info on the subject: http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/healthy_eating/omega3.htm
Posted by mytwosense on May 10, 2007 09:23 AMPatrick, Sorry to offend a Clinton Lover like yourself but I was only pointing out that politicians LIE. All of them do Patrick, even your beloved Bill Clinton. Now when I say "all" Patrick, I mean each and every one of them, I am leaving none of them out. Many of my friends and fellow Marines were victims of lying, self serving politicians during the Viet Nam war. I might point out that it was a Democrat (Kennedy) who first took us over there and another Democrat (Johnson) that escalated our involvment. Followed up by a terrific lier Nixon, who did finally get us out of Southeast Asia. (Yes, I'm that old). So, don't get yourself all worked up over the recognition that the most entertaining lying politician of American history is your hero, Bill, I did not have sex with that woman, Clinton. And the focus of my retort is that we can't trust what we are told coming out of Washington from our government. If you want to trust them, go ahead.
Posted by Harry on May 10, 2007 10:23 AMMytwosense: ty for the sources of Omega3, I will definately eat more walnuts because my brain needs lots of help.
I would doubt this mercury report if I could see an agenda in it, but this time I can`t.
Posted by Sharon B. on May 10, 2007 11:45 AMWhat! Clinton lied! Nooooo, say it isn't so!
Posted by my name 2 on May 10, 2007 12:56 PMMytwosense: ty for the sources of Omega3, I will definately eat more walnuts because my brain needs lots of help.
lol, Sharon, you're welcome. As you may know, I am expecting, plus I'm a vegetarian, so getting the amino fatty acids from alternative sources is a particular concern of mine. I've been taking flaxseed oil capsules every day.
Not sure if it's improving my brain, as its essentially turned to swiss cheese since I've been pregnant! The other day I was standing at the counter at the bank trying to remember what the transaction was I went there to complete!
Posted by mytwosense on May 11, 2007 09:17 AM