Fish and Mercury: Should You Be Scared?

Mercury is a concerning contaminant that has been shown to cause nervous system damage. Due to this, the FDA currently recommends avoiding certain seafood -- mercury-rich fish include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.

In particular, pregnant women (or those trying to conceive), children under the age of 12, and individuals with immune-system problems (taking medications that suppress function, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or under cancer treatments) should not eat these varieties.

To safeguard yourself and your family against contaminated seafood, always check for advisories in your area, to determine if any chemical or toxic dumping has been detected in local lakes.

Not buying something local? Don’t fret. National guidelines are already in place for areas affected by larger-scale events, like oil spills; involved areas are routinely tested for safety and fish farming is banned when harmful levels of contaminants are found.