In contrast to the consumer's increased awareness of the health benefits of fish, there has recently been increased attention on the harmful effects of contaminants in fish, particularly methyl mercury. Methyl mercury is a form of mercury which has been under study for years, but recent findings have confirmed its potentially harmful effects on an unborn infant's developing brain and nervous system, as well as its effect on a child's ability to learn.

You can still easily increase fish in your diet without also getting excessive exposure from contaminants. Let's look at the recommendations of three government agencies, which have recently updated their advisories on fish consumption:

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• The Michigan Department of Community Health

The advisories issued by these groups pertain to Women Who are Pregnant or May Become Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, and Young Children. These advisories do not apply to the general population, but may be helpful to anyone as a guide for limiting regular consumption of particular types of fish that may be high in mercury or other contaminants.

The Environmental Protection Agency
January 2001, The EPA issued national advise on mercury in fish for *Women Who are Pregnant or May Become Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, and Young Children. The EPA's advise only covers freshwater fish caught from local waters in the U.S. by non-commercial fishermen. To protect against risks of mercury in fish, the EPA recommends that these *groups of people limit fish consumption to one meal per week for adults (6 ounces cooked fish, 8 ounces uncooked fish) and one meal per week for young children (2 ounces cooked or 3 ounces uncooked fish).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
January 2001, The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition of the U.S. FDA issued a consumer advisory about the risks of mercury in fish. Its advisory applies only to commercial fish purchased in stores and restaurants. Women Who are Pregnant or May Become Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, and Young Children can protect themselves and their unborn children and nursing infants by not eating any of the following fish:

• Shark
• Swordfish
• King mackerel
• Tilefish

You can safely eat a total of 12 ounces cooked fish per week. A typical serving size of fish is 3 - 6 ounces. It is not harmful if you eat more than 12 ounces in a particular week as long as your average intake over many weeks is not more than 12 ounces.

The Michigan Department of Community Health
The MDCH recommends that Women of Childbearing Age and Children Under 15 take extra caution about eating Michigan fish. Their guidelines state, "Certain kinds and sizes of fish from the Great lakes and from some of Michigan's lakes and streams contain levels of toxic chemicals that may be harmful if eaten too often."

• Choose small fish. Generally, panfish and fish just over the legal size will have fewer chemicals.
• Choose lean fish. Panfish, brook trout and brown trout that live in streams and rivers tend to be low in fat. Small walleye, northern pike and bass, especially those that are just legal size, also tend to have fewer chemicals. Carp and catfish are higher in fat and usually have more chemicals.
• Choose fish that don't eat other fish. Large predator fish, especially large walleye, northern pike, muskie, bass and lake trout tend to have more chemicals.
• Trim and cook fish properly to reduce risk. This can remove 50 percent of the remaining contaminants in fish. However, mercury cannot be removed by this method.

The Michigan Department of Community Health has issued a special advisory for all inland lakes in Michigan due to mercury. This is a widespread problem throughout the north central United States and Canada. No one should eat more than one meal a week of these kinds and sizes of fish from any of Michigan's inland lakes and women of childbearing age and children under age 15 should not eat more than one meal per month of these fish.

• Rock bass, perch, or crappie over 9 inches in length
• Any size largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, or muskie.

The MDCH further advises that no one eat any carp or catfish from the Saginaw River or the Tittabawassee River downstream from Midland, Michigan. Other fish from these rivers should only be eaten in small amounts.

These recommendations should not discourage the consumption of fish and seafood in general as fish is an extremely nutritious food. The general population is encouraged to consume more fish to reap the health benefits fish offers. However, it is also important to be an informed fish consumer, limiting your intake of fish that may have a high probability of being contaminated. Remember, again variety in your selection of any food is always a good motto - not only will you get a wider variety of nutrients from different fish species, you will also get less of any one toxin that may be predominant in a particular type of fish.