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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, April 25, 2000 CONTACT:
Jennifer Kelly or Amy Kostant, 202/463-6670INADEQUATE FISH TESTING THREATENS WOMEN, CHILDREN'S HEALTH
Report Finds FDA Fails To Test Tuna, Other Seafood For Mercury
Washington, D.C. -- Recently obtained information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals a seafood mercury monitoring program severely lacking in thoroughness, depth and degree, according to a report released today from the Mercury Policy Project and California Communities Against Toxics.
While the FDA is charged with protecting the public from mercury-contaminated seafood, it no longer conducts a domestic mercury monitoring program for tuna (canned and steaks), shark or swordfish, according to the report, "The One That Got Away: FDA Fails To Protect The Public From High Levels Of Mercury In Seafood."
"Without an adequate mercury monitoring program for seafood, it is virtually impossible for pregnant women and women of reproductive age to make informed dietary choices in order to protect the developing brains of their children," said Dr. Ted Schettler of Physicians for Social Responsibility. "Without such a program physicians are unable to adequately advise their patients about the hazards of mercury exposure to the developing fetus."
Currently four states - Vermont, New Jersey, Minnesota, Michigan - have issued warnings to pregnant women and nursing mothers to stop or limit consumption of certain ocean fish, including canned tuna, due to mercury levels.
What FDA data that does exist shows that significant quantities of seafood containing levels above what the FDA considers safe are sold throughout the U.S. in grocery stores and restaurants. FDA's data indicates that 36 percent of the swordfish, 33 percent of shark and 4 percent of the large tuna sampled exceeded FDA's 1 part per million action level for methylmercury &endash; the form of mercury that is most harmful to people and wildlife.
"Mercury is bioaccumulative and can be passed from pregnant women to their babies, causing serious neurological problems," Dr. Schettler said. "Relatively small amounts eaten often, or larger amounts eaten occasionally, can harm developing fetal brains during windows of vulnerability. The fetus is extremely sensitive to mercury, which can impair language, memory and attention span, and delay normal physical development."
"In 1997, EPA estimated that several million women and children were at risk of exposure to mercury due to consumption of contaminated fish," said Michael Bender, co-author of "The One That Got Away" and director of the Mercury Policy Project. Tuna is one of the most widely eaten fish in the U.S., and is often recommended as a low-cost, high-protein and low-fat food, particularly during pregnancy. Bender added, "We know that mercury levels in the ocean are rising, so we absolutely must test fish for mercury levels too."
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) had requested that FDA provide them with detailed information on their actions to protect at-risk populations from commercial fish contaminated with mercury. In a recent letter they had urged FDA to review its policy on advising vulnerable Americans about the potential risks of mercury contamination.
The report also notes that mercury levels in the environment continue to rise along with the number of states issuing warnings for mercury in freshwater fish; fish consumption advisories increased from 28 states in 1993 to 40 states in 2000 without any corresponding actions from FDA regarding mercury in seafood.