| Quantitative Approach for Incorporating Methylmercury Risks and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Benefits in Developing Species-Specific Fish Consumption Advice Gary L. Ginsberg and Brian F. Toal Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford, Connecticut, USA Abstract
Background: Despite general agreement about the toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg) , fish consumption advice remains controversial. Concerns have been raised that negative messages will steer people away from fish and omega-3 fatty acid (FA) benefits. One approach is to provide advice for individual species that highlights beneficial fish while cautioning against riskier fish. Objectives: Our goal in this study was to develop a method to quantitatively analyze the net risk/benefit of individual fish species based on their MeHg and omega-3 FA content. Methods: We identified dose–response relationships for MeHg and omega-3 FA effects on coronary heart disease (CHD) and neurodevelopment. We used the MeHg and omega-3 FA content of 16 commonly consumed species to calculate the net risk/benefit for each species. Results: Estimated omega-3 FA benefits outweigh MeHg risks for some species (e.g., farmed salmon, herring, trout) ; however, the opposite was true for others (swordfish, shark) . Other species were associated with a small net benefit (e.g., flounder, canned light tuna) or a small net risk (e.g., canned white tuna, halibut) . These results were used to place fish into one of four meal frequency categories, with the advice tentative because of limitations in the underlying dose–response information. Separate advice appears warranted for the neurodevelopmental risk group versus the cardiovascular risk group because we found a greater net benefit from fish consumption for the cardiovascular risk group. Conclusions: This research illustrates a framework for risk/benefit analysis that can be used to develop categories of consumption advice ranging from "do not eat" to "unlimited," with the caveat that unlimited may need to be tempered for certain fish (e.g., farm-raised salmon) because of other contaminants and end points (e.g., cancer risk) . Uncertainties exist in the underlying dose–response relationships, pointing in particular to the need for more research on the adverse effects of MeHg on cardiovascular end points. Key words: cardiovascular risk, fish advisory, methylmercury, neurodevelopment, omega-3 fatty acids, risk/benefit. Environ Health Perspect 117:267–275 (2009) . doi:10.1289/ehp.11368 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 3 September 2008]
Address correspondence to G.L. Ginsberg, Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Ave., Mail Stop 11CHA, Hartford, CT 06134 USA. Telephone: (860) 509-7750. Fax: (860) 509-7785. E-mail: gary.ginsberg@po.state.ct.us The research and opinions are those of the authors and do not represent official positions of the State of Connecticut. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 13 February 2008 ; accepted 3 September 2008.
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