New York looks at mercury levels from fish

New York -- New York City health officials say one-quarter of the city's adults have elevated blood mercury levels likely due to fish consumption.

Although such mercury levels pose little if any health risk for most adults, they might increase the risk of cognitive delays for children whose mothers had very high mercury levels during pregnancy.

The findings released Monday are from the city's Health and Nutrition Examination Survey -- the first such survey conducted by a U.S. city.

Officials discovered people eating fish three or fewer times weekly have, on average, levels of mercury below reportable levels, while readings exceed reportable levels among those eating fish four or more times.

"For most people, frequent fish consumption is not a concern," said Daniel Kass, the department's assistant commissioner for environmental surveillance and policy. But during pregnancy mercury can pass from a mother's bloodstream to a developing fetus and small amounts can also pass into breast milk.

"No one needs to stop eating fish but some people may need to change the type and amount they eat," Kass said.

The report is available at http://www.ehponline.org/docs/admin/newest.html.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.