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Science 12 December 1997:
Vol. 278. no. 5345, pp. 1904 - 1905
DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5345.1904
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Policy Forum

Balancing Fish Consumption Benefits with Mercury Exposure

Grace M. Egeland and John P. Middaugh

Risk assessments relying on the U.S. EPA reference dose (RfD) for methylmercury exposure have led to restrictive fish consumption advisories in many states. These advisories fail to account for the benefits associated with fish consumption. Although the use of an RfD is valuable in efforts to regulate industrial emissions, food consumption advice should occur within a broader context that includes consideration of both risks and benefits.

The authors are in the Section of Epidemiology, Division of Public Health, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Anchorage, AK 99524-0249, USA. E-mail: johnm{at}health.state.ak.us

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Modulating Methylmercury-Induced Neurotoxicity.
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Human Biomonitoring to Optimize Fish Consumption Advice: Reducing Uncertainty When Evaluating Benefits and Risks.
S. M. Arnold, T. V. Lynn, L. A. Verbrugge, and J. P. Middaugh (2005)
Am J Public Health 95, 393-397
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Promoting social responsibility for health: health impact assessment and healthy public policy at the community level.
M. B. Mittelmark (2001)
Health Promot. Int. 16, 269-274
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Determination of a site-specific reference dose for methylmercury for fish-eating populations.
A. M. Shipp, P. R. Gentry, G. Lawrence, C. Van Landingham, T. Covington, H. J. Clewell, K. Gribben, and K. Crump (2000)
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Effects of Prenatal and Postnatal Methylmercury Exposure From Fish Consumption on Neurodevelopment: Outcomes at 66 Months of Age in the Seychelles Child Development Study.
P. W. Davidson, G. J. Myers, C. Cox, C. Axtell, C. Shamlaye, J. Sloane-Reeves, E. Cernichiari, L. Needham, A. Choi, Y. Wang, et al. (1998)
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)