Mercury in Louisiana Fish by Elise Plunk

Two new waterways have been added to a list where Louisiana officials warn people should limit or avoid eating certain fish species after high levels of mercury were detected in samples. 

The two new warnings are for Mermentau River and Lake Arthur as well as the Vermillion River and Bayou Tortue. Existing warnings, first issued more than 20 years ago, have been updated for five areas: Bayou De Loutre and its associate lakes, Boeuf River, Lake Bistineau, Pearl River and Tew Lake. 

Louisiana currently has 52 fish consumption advisories for mercury in freshwater areas, as well as an advisory for certain offshore species in the Gulf of Mexico. A fish consumption advisory doesn’t automatically mean people shouldn’t eat fish caught from a certain water body. Eating fish with high levels of mercury over a long period of time can cause mercury to build up in the human body and affect the brain and nervous system. 

Developing fetuses and children under age 7 are particularly sensitive to the effects of high mercury levels because their nervous systems are still developing In general, people who should pay close attention to fish consumption advisories include pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, women who are breastfeeding, young children and people who regularly eat fish caught from waters with a mercury advisory in place. 

The health department recommends people read the advisory for the waterway where their fish was caught and follow its specific recommendations about which fish species to limit or avoid. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released through human activity. More information is available from the state health department’s website.

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