What is a safe intake of methylmercury for pregnant women?
“Different agencies have different guidelines, but the most conservative is from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” says Myers. “While complicated, their guidelines were calculated by taking the lowest amount anyone thinks might possibly damage a fetus and dividing that number by 10. This translates to a tissue concentration of about 1 part per million.” To meet this guideline, the EPA suggests that pregnant women follow these guidelines: Eat no more than 12 ounces of lower-mercury seafood (such as shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish) per week. Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. These varieties tend to have the highest amounts of mercury. Limit albacore tuna (which is higher in mercury than canned light tuna) to no more than 6 ounces per week (one average meal) but still don’t eat more than 12 ounces of any seafood per week. Before eating any non-commercial seafood (such as that caught by family or friends), check with your local branch
