Mercury Exposure in Americans is Widespread
Before the holidays, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued findings from a fascinating survey that caught my attention. Anything to do with mercury tends to catch my eye, and not just because I have a pretty serious addiction to sushi. Mercury is almost universally recognized as a potent neurotoxin that can cause permanent damage to the brain and central nervous system, especially among young children. In pregnant women, mercury can pass through the placenta and can harm the fetus.
We are most often exposed to mercury through contaminated seafood. Even if you're extremely careful with your seafood purchases (source better options with the Seafood Selector), its little wonder we're having trouble avoiding mercury: an EPA survey found that almost half of U.S. freshwater fish carry mercury in excess of federal safe levels for human consumption.
But this study shed new light on mercury in Americans' bodies. For the first time, the CDC examined the prevalence of mercury exposure in a wider population sample: 2500 Americans. The findings concluded that exposure increases with age, then starts tapering off when people turn 50. Though prenatal exposure is still frightening because development happens in critical windows, this data indicates that our daily exposure to mercury over a lifetime is widespread and from multiple sources.
Among the report's key findings:
• Perchlorate was detected for the first time in all participants. Perchlorate is a naturally occurring salt that is also a component of rocket fuel and fireworks. High levels of perchlorate are known to affect thyroid function, while the health effects of low-level exposure are being debated.
• BPA was found in more than 90 percent of the participants' urine. BPA is an industrial chemical that mimics estrogen and has been shown to cause developmental problems and precancerous growth in animals.
• Lead exposure has been decreasing since the 1970s, validating public health efforts to reduce childhood exposure, the report says.
• Acrylamide -- formed when foods containing carbohydrates are cooked at high temperatures -- was detected for the first time and is common in the U.S. population.
The survey's findings were part of a larger endeavor to determine which chemicals present in the environment ultimately end up in people's bodies and at what concentrations. So far their database includes 212 chemicals - no small sum indeed. But focusing on the widespread exposure and known toxicity of certain chemicals, like mercury, will help government leaders prioritize which chemicals require critical assessment, and hopefully regulation.
The study was conducted using biomonitoring, a method that detects a chemical's presence in humans but cannot evaluate specific adverse effects or disease.
"Biomonitoring has transformed the way scientists and policymakers approach their work in determining what must be done to protect humans from chemical contamination," said Jane Houlihan, Senior Vice President for Research at Environmental Working Group.
If you didn't already know it, this study does indeed confirm that Americans from all walks of life are exposed to dangerous environmental chemicals. FACT. Its in our food, its even in my precious sushi!
So do I stop eating sushi forever? Hardly. But you can bet I'll be making sure my Congressman knows that I want chemicals out of my food, my water, and out of my life in general.
Image Courtesy of Merlijin Hoek / CC BY-SA 2.0
Healthy Child Healthy World is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit inspiring parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals. Learn more at HealthyChild.org.
