According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, almost all of us have at least trace amounts of methylmercury (the form of mercury we tend to encounter most often) in our bodies due to its enormous prevalence in the environment. However, most of the time these levels are too low to cause any type of health problem.
While some of this may come from residing near power plants, since burning coal releases a variety of harmful pollutants, including mercury, humans tend to ingest the chemical by consuming fish, says Awadhesh Jha, a toxicologist at the Plymouth University. “Many industries are close to the coast and most of their pollutants, including mercury, are discharged into the aquatic environment,” he says. “So the fish accumulate more.”
While there is little information on the number of mercury toxicity cases in the U.S. each year, studies have shown that excessive exposure to mercury can cause neurodevelopmental problems in children and expose adults to more risk of cardiovascular disease. Several national surveys in the United States have found that people with incomes less than $20,000 a year, low educational levels, and those who eat fish more than three times a week have the highest exposure to mercury.
The risks are greater when eating larger fish, Jha says, because over time they accumulate higher concentrations of mercury in their bodies by eating smaller species. Because of this, both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration recommend pregnant women avoid eating shark, swordfish, mackerel, or tilefish because they may contain higher amounts of mercury, which could have an impact on development. brain of the fetus. .
For the rest of us, Jha says he advises a limit of no more than 170 grams per week of fish like tuna or mackerel (about a single can of tuna) and, generally, no more than 350 grams per week of any fish or seafood. . Exceeding these limits from time to time will probably have little impact, but doing so week after week will increase the risk of having higher levels of mercury in the body.
The issue remains controversial among scientists, since eating a lot of fish also has known health benefits, such as increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which protect against cardiovascular diseases.
“Ultimately, it depends on the person and how well they metabolize the toxic substances,” says Jha. “It is the genetic makeup of individuals that determines the toxicity of chemicals, including mercury.”
The investigation has shown above That mercury can affect the body in several ways, which can have an impact on immune function. Common signs of mercury poisoning are joint and muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, insomnia, and excessive sweating.
Anyone suffering from mercury poisoning can be treated with medications called chelators, which remove mercury from the blood and keep it away from the brain and kidneys, but it is a time-consuming process and can take weeks or months before symptoms improve. symptoms.
“It will gradually be broken down and then metabolized and excreted, but it still depends on whether the mercury is bound to certain proteins and other molecules in the body,” says Jha. “If that’s the case, it could take longer to be eliminated from the body.”
RFK Jr. insists that he has already overcome the harmful effects of the two diseases. “I offer to eat 5 more brain worms and still beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate,” the candidate tweeted on Wednesday X. “I am sure of the result even with a disadvantage of six worms.”
