Here is part 2 of Sandy Szwarc's article on mercury in fish:
Fishy Advice -- Risk-Free at What Cost?
By Sandy Szwarc 2004 Published 04/26/2004 TCS
Editor's note: This is the second of a two part series on mercury. Read the first installment here.
Remember when women were encouraged to simply enjoy 2 or 3 servings of a wide variety of fish each week to ensure a healthy baby? Our babies aren't in any more danger today, what's changed is our fear.
When the FDA repeatedly issues health advisories spelling out dangers in increasing detail, as it's done the past few years, it's natural to assume the risks must be pretty significant. "Some fish and shellfish contain high levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system," states the FDA's latest advisory. "The risks... depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish."1-3
But not a single mother in America has ever eaten so much fish she's put her baby anywhere near harm's way. Yet the terminology being used by the government and the media certainly leads us to think that.
-snip-
rest of article at the link above.
Fishy Advice -- Risk-Free at What Cost?
By Sandy Szwarc 2004 Published 04/26/2004 TCS
Editor's note: This is the second of a two part series on mercury. Read the first installment here.
Remember when women were encouraged to simply enjoy 2 or 3 servings of a wide variety of fish each week to ensure a healthy baby? Our babies aren't in any more danger today, what's changed is our fear.
When the FDA repeatedly issues health advisories spelling out dangers in increasing detail, as it's done the past few years, it's natural to assume the risks must be pretty significant. "Some fish and shellfish contain high levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system," states the FDA's latest advisory. "The risks... depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish."1-3
But not a single mother in America has ever eaten so much fish she's put her baby anywhere near harm's way. Yet the terminology being used by the government and the media certainly leads us to think that.
-snip-
rest of article at the link above.
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