Environmental Health Center

EnvironMinute Health Scripts

You've hear the warnings about meat and heart disease, so you've decided to eat more fish. You may have made a dangerous decision. Learn why on today's EnvironMinute. [:10]

A can of tuna may be dolphin safe, but hazardous to you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration found mercury in every tuna sample it tested. Mercury is a dangerous toxin. It's especially dangerous to pregnant women because it can damage developing babies. Some experts say that almost all seafood carries harmful levels of mercury. What causes the contamination? Power plants, hospital incinerators, and other facilities release tons of mercury into the air. Much of it comes down in rain and is absorbed by fish. Even ponds on fish farms are vulnerable. If you eat a lot of fish, it might be a good idea to cut back and tell your elected officials about your concerns. [:37]

The EnvironMinute is produced in cooperation with the National Safety Council and made possible by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation. [:10]

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