The plain truth about mercury and eating fish

Mercury is a natural element in rock. It also may come from burning coal and trash, and from some industry. We believe much of the mercury in Arkansas occurs naturally. Mercury reaches lakes and streams through rain, groundwater runoff and other ways. When conditions are right in water, certain kinds of bacteria change inorganic mercury into methyl mercury. This form of mercury is the one most likely to cause health problems by entering our food chain. One of the best ways to avoid mercury is to eat fish that don’t eat other fish.  For instance, eat bream and crappie instead of bass and flathead catfish, since these panfish eat lots of other things besides fish.

Eat smaller fish taken from lakes or rivers with mercury advisories. Younger fish have less mercury than older, larger fish.. For details, contact the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, (800) 462-0599, and ask for epidemiology, or call (501) 661-2893.