What Do You Know About Mercury in Fish?
Nearly all fish and shellfish have some mercury in them, the federal government says. Find out how much you know about mercury in fish by taking this quiz.
1. Mercury in the environment can cause health problems when it
is in which form?
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correct answer is
Mercury is an
element that is usually not harmful. But in the environment, mercury changes to
methylmercury. This organic form is easily absorbed by living things. It builds up
in
fish and animals. The more mercury in a fish or animal, the more harm it can cause.
2. Which of these ocean creatures have the highest amount of
methylmercury in them?
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correct answer is
Tuna is a large
predatory fish at the top of the food chain. It has the most methylmercury. Plankton
is
tiny food for almost all small and some large marine animals. Smaller marine animals
are
food for bigger marine animals. As mercury moves up the chain, the larger fish and
the
longest-lived fish end up with the mercury that has been absorbed by the smaller plants
and animals.
3. People are more likely to get the most methylmercury by
eating:
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correct answer is
Because tuna is
at the top of the food chain, it has the most mercury.
4. Mercury is most harmful to:
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correct answer is
The fetus is very
sensitive to the harmful effects of mercury. The harm done cannot be reversed even
when
the fetus is no longer exposed to the mercury. Mercury is always harmful. But it causes
less harm as you get older. An adult seems to be less harmed by higher amounts of
mercury, compared with a fetus, child, or adolescent.
5. Which agency is responsible for watching mercury levels in
bodies of water?
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correct answer is
State and tribal
health programs regularly post information about mercury in area fish. They offer
guides
on how much fish from certain lakes, rivers, and coastal waters a person can safely
eat.
6. High levels of methylmercury can cause:
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correct answer is
Mercury harms the
brain. It can cause a wide range of brain and nerve problems.
7. Which fish should not be eaten by pregnant or
breastfeeding people, or children?
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correct answer is
Shark, swordfish,
king mackerel, tile-fish, orange roughy, and big-eye tuna, have such high levels of
mercury that pregnant people, people who are breastfeeding, and young children should
not have even a single serving of these types of fish. All of these fish are higher
up
the food chain.
8. How much fish should a pregnant person have each week?
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correct answer is
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consume between 8 and 12 ounces per week of a variety of seafood from choices that are lower in mercury. Seafood low in mercury include anchovy, cod, herring, oyster, salmon, freshwater trout, and canned light tuna.
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