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Mercury Rising
By Kelly Davidson
2005 Dec (Vol. 7, No. 7) |
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Freshwater anglers are well aware of the dangers of mercury poisoning—emissions from coal-fire power plants settle in water, seep into fish and end up on our dinner tables. But did you know that the occasional tuna sandwich or even an old dental filling could put you at risk? The Sierra Club does, which is why it’s offering inexpensive home testing kits by mail. For $25 and a lock of your hair, a reputable lab will determine your mercury levels. Women are at highest risk, since the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one in six women of childbearing age has high enough mercury levels to put her baby at risk of mercury poisoning. A high enough level could cause mild to severe learning disabilities and mental retardation, according to a 2000 study by the National Academy of Sciences. Three Hooked editors took the test, and the results were mixed. Our tilapia-and tuna-loving editors, who also have dental fillings, showed borderline high levels of mercury, while one shrimp-and trout-eating, filling-free editor’s levels were quite low. You can learn more at www.sierraclub.org.
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Updated: Mar 6th, 2006 - 07:25:01
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