Mercury in fish can harm your unborn baby

Why a woman must choose fish very wisely

The link between what you consume and the health of your baby is much stronger than once thought. What you eat and drink while pregnant will determine how well your baby is nourished.

Eating fish can become really fishy business for a pregnant woman if she does not pay attention to the source and the kind of fish she is consuming. One key issue for every pregnant woman is the content of mercury in fish. In certain markets, for instance in Europe, fish traded must meet certain standards. The waters of origin and the handling of the fish are two important considerations. Occasionally fish bans have been imposed where standards are thought to have been compromised.

Fish is one of the most nutritious meals a pregnant woman should eat. It is high in protein, low in fat and full of heart-healthy nutrients. Fish contains Omega 3 fatty acids which are vital to pregnant women and essential for the development of the baby’s brain and vision. Studies have shown that women who eat fish during pregnancy are less likely to give birth to premature and low-weight babies, and have fewer complications during delivery.

Fish and mercury contamination

In most parts of the developing world, fish is eaten as harvested. And there is little awareness on toxicity resulting from disposal of industrial waste into the environment. Handling methods are in most cases quite basic and unmonitored and the fish is prone to  bacterial contamination.

Industrialization has led to pollution in our oceans, lakes and rivers resulting in increasing levels of toxic waste, including mercury. Fish breeding in contaminated waters exposes pregnant women to health risks because fish from such waters may contain harmful components, among them mercury. A pregnant woman should thus ensure that she is aware of the various types of fish, their sources and therefore the possibility of mercury contamination.

Mercury is a poisonous chemical element

Predator fish (those that eat other fish) and fish that have lived for many years such as sword fish, shark and large tuna have the potential risk of carrying high levels of mercury and are not safe for consumption. Fish with low levels of contamination are generally small in size and do not live at the bottom of waters. These include wild pacific, tilapia, haddock and sardines.

Mercury is a poisonous chemical element that is silver in colour and found in both liquid and solid forms. It is used in thermometers because it expands with heat. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air and water through industrial pollution. As mercury in the air falls it can accumulate in large water bodies where it turns into methyl mercury. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to your unborn child.

Fish absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in the water and the concentration builds up in them. Methyl mercury is more toxic and easier to absorb than normal mercury and even cooking does not significantly reduce its toxicity in fish.

How mercury affects your pregnancy

When a pregnant woman eats fish that contains mercury, the mercury is passed on through the placenta to her growing baby. This can damage the baby’s nervous system and may lead to the death of the fetus. Where the fetus consumes mercury and proceeds to full term, certain abnormalities may develop. The baby may have brain damage, learning disabilities and hearing loss. The seriousness depends on how much mercury the mother consumed while pregnant.

To fully benefit from fish consumption and reduce the risks that associate to it, it is important for a pregnant woman to know the types of fish that are safe to eat and to be conscious of their source and handling.

END: PG 2/11-12

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