Friday, April 21, 2006

NC Adds Mercury Warning for 15 Additional Fish Species

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently warned that 22 fish species in our state may contain dangerous levels of mercury, up from only seven last year. The mercury warning covers 17 saltwater and five freshwater species. The full list of species is available directly from the NC DHHS but some will certainly surprise you. It includes mercury warnings for Spanish and king mackerel and tuna. All fish contain some minor traces of mercury but officials found levels higher than the maximum allowable limit of 0.4 milligrams for each kilogram. The NC DHHS recommends that pregnant women and children under the age of 15 should not eat the listed species. They also suggest that adults eat these fish no more than once a week. Many feel that the state is being exceptionally cautious with the updated list but it still points to the fact that North Carolina needs to better regulate mercury emissions from coal burning power plants. More on the new warnings is available from the Wilmington Star and the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

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