Mercury in Sushi

[sabro]

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2006/2006-03-07-03.asp
Mercury Guide

Is anyone concerned about the mercury in fish? Have you changed your eating habits because of this?

I'm concerned because I eat a lot of fish.

 

[epigene]

Mercury is a concern, but there are so many things floating around in the world around us that are hazardous, I've accepted the hazards in modern living.

Also, I don't eat as much fatty tuna as I used to. I also don't eat whale (all animals at the top of the food chain accumulate large concentrations of everything their prey eat).

Also, keep fit. Mercury (and other chemicals I can't remember offhand) deposit in fat in the human body. I also recall vaguely there is something you can eat to flush out mercury in your body... (I have to check that out...)

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

It seems that everything kills you nowadays. But then again, we will all die; that much we can not avoid.

I think if you worry about the dangers of every food, you will soon eat nothing, which is at least as dangerous for your health. It's much better to have a healthy lifestyle in general. Eat healthily in moderation. Exercise.

Let come what may. In the end, we really can not avoid our "fates".

 

[sabro]

I don't think you should ever rush headlong toward the arms of the grim reaper. We take risks every day. Hopefully the benefits outweigh the risks. When you take risks they should be with understanding and information.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

My point exactly. But with only one modification. Of course we all fear death. I hate to say that I am no different in this respect, but it is too often forgotten that death is a necessary component of life. We have to embrace death equally as much as we embrace birth. This is not to say that we should "rush head-long" into death or even necessarily "look forward" to it. But we must accept it.

Our modern society teaches us to.....oh, wait, this is REALLY off topic, isn't it?

Sorry!

 

[Kara_Nari]

Off topic, but still interesting...
I generally say I dont mind dying... however there are some times when I am having lots of fun, or having a great day, and I then I nearly get runover by a crazy korean driver, and I realise that 'Hey, I dont wanna die today!' So far fate has been nice in those circumstances.

Ok back on topic... Im not really concerned about the mercury levels in fish... I worry more about what waters the fish came out of... but then I dont really eat much fish, just a nibble here and there so as not to appear rude to the host.
I am really worried about having fillings in my teeth (so far I have none), and getting mercury poisoning from them. I hear that in Korea white fillings are substantially more expensive than mercury fillings. How is it in Japan..? (Sorry off topic again).

 

[shiroma]

Toxic Chinese Mercury Pollution Travelling to US

One survey earlier this year of water sources in eastern Jiangsu province, where there is a concentration of manufacturers, found that various heavy metals - including mercury, cadmium and lead - were present in 41 per cent of fish species.

Minamata disease
NIMD
Chisso

Mercury does not go away by cooking; it does not matter if it is sushi or not.

It is also important to make distinctions between inroganic or organic mercury: the latter considered worse.

 

[ArmandV]

We have to embrace death equally as much as we embrace birth. This is not to say that we should "rush head-long" into death or even necessarily "look forward" to it. But we must accept it.

"There are far worse things that face man...than...death."- Count Dracula.

I've cut back on my tuna consumption due to the mercury stories. Maybe it is a scare tactic, maybe not. But I am not taking any unnecessary chances.