Addressing Concerns for Methylmercury in the Future Seafood Supply: Call for Reassessments
Prior to the International Association of Fish Inspectors (IAFI) World Seafood Congress held in
The IAFI Board, which consists of seafood professionals fr
IAFI STATEMENT
Methylmercury in c
Caution by s
There is growing evidence that fish consumption can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and can benefit neurodevelopment in the fetus and young children such that reduced or eliminated consumption of fish could actually impose risks. Likewise, general seafood consumption is growing dependent on aquaculture supplies that were not evident during previous considerations for methylmercury exposure fr
Today, we have a wealth of data on methylmercury as c
First, because current risk management is based on a safety assessment process that only calculates one level of exposure to methylmercury deemed to be without significant risk, the risk manager cannot determine whether those who are exposed above that level are or are not at significant risk.
Risk management policies worldwide often treat the calculated levels as ‘bright-lines’ above which individuals are at unacceptably high risk, even though they might still retain significant margins of safety. Whether reducing their fish consumption will significantly reduce risk is not known.
On the other hand, limited or no fish consumption can reduce health benefits and elevate other risks.
There is evidence that s
The current challenge is to determine whether it is feasible to shift to a new paradigm for
methylmercury based on assessments of risk that are adequately protective without being unduly precautionary, e.g., that are not based solely on a single level of exposure and that take into account the potential health benefits fr