Changes Proposed to Federal Mercury Consumption Guidelines

Alaskan’s have become increasingly aware of the relationship between mercury and fish consumption. Much of this awareness is the result of efforts made by activists like Dr. Jane Hightower MD, who recently had her book Diagnosis Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison published. State public health officials continue to emphasize how important the benefits of eating wild Alaska seafood is to residents.

Mercury and other contaminants accumulate over time in fish and seafood. Fish with short life cycles like wild salmon offer almost no risk of exposure to mercury or persistent organic pollutants (POPS). Risk increases with longer-lived fish like large halibut and salmon sharks.

The State of Alaska monitors the level of contaminants found in Alaska’s fish and has established fish consumption guidelines. Reports being made by the Washington Post say that the White House and U.S. Food and Drug Administration are considering a relaxation of official federal guidelines that recommend that women and children avoid certain types of fish. Scientists with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are alarmed with this stance and Vermont's Senator Patrick Leahy has weighed in on the controversy as well.

Leahy says of the action, "The issue of mercury has become Exhibit A of the cozy way the Bush Administration has put special interests above the public's health when it comes to environmental policy. They have done the bidding of the big polluters, even effectively letting them write clean air and water rules. Once again the Bush Administration seems intent on ignoring sound science on mercury poisoning. First they tried to ignore the Clean Air Act to go easy on mercury and other harmful pollutants spewed from power plants. Congress and the courts had to step in to halt that effort. Now, in the administration's 11th hour, they are quietly trying to water down advisories for women and children about the dangers of mercury in fish, disregarding sound science on this issue. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin capable of impairing childhood development at very low levels. This backroom bouquet for special interests should be stopped in its tracks. If they slip this through, I will work with the incoming Obama Administration to restore science-based decisions on mercury."