Mercury Levels in U.S. Seafood

Tim Fitzgerald

EDF Hg database & recommendations

• Developed in 2004-2011 as a compliment to eco-recommendations

• Combine numerous data sources into one comprehensive resource

• Advice based on mean Hg levels

• Age/gender specific advisories

• 350+ gov’t & peer-reviewed sources

• Based on EPA’s National Guidance for establishing Fish Advisories

EPA/FDA Mercury Advice

DO NOT EAT (1 ppm) Shark Swordfish King Mackerel Tilefish

ONCE PER WEEK Albacore Tuna (~0.31 ppm)

Species Hg (ppm) Marlin 1.40

Cobia 0.74

Bluefin tuna 0.73

Opah/moonfish 0.62

Bigeye tuna 0.58

Escolar 0.58

Wahoo 0.49

Orange roughy 0.48

Spanish mack. 0.46

Chilean seabass 0.40

Spotted seatrout 0.40

Grouper 0.38

Lingcod 0.36

Bluefish 0.34

Sturgeon 0.34

Market factors influence exposure

1. 92% of U.S.-eaten seafood is imported

2. 60% of U.S.-eaten seafood is shrimp, canned tuna, salmon

3. 50% of U.S.-eaten seafood is farmed

4. 33% (on average) is mislabeled

5. U.S. seafood consumption -12% since 2004

Where U.S. seafood comes from

China, 19%

USA, 16%

Thailand, 14% Canada, 10%

Indonesia, 5%

Vietnam, 4%

Ecuador, 3%

Everyone else, 28%

U.S. Top 10 Seafoods

Species/Item Hg (ppm)

Shrimp 0.05

Canned Tuna 0.12-0.33

Salmon 0.05

Tilapia 0.02

Pollock 0.06

Pangasius 0.01

Crab 0.10

Cod 0.07-0.14

Catfish 0.01-0.14

Clams 0.03

1. Systematic update of EDF database (WoS)

2. Focus on Top ‘Hg Contributors’ (Groth, 2010)

3. Screened 1000+ data sources

4. Extracted mean [Hg] from 350+ sources

5. Examine trends & variability in [Hg] in domestic & imported seafood items

6. ID knowledge gaps

7. Compare findings with FDA monitoring program data

Approach, Goals & Rationale

EDF/Stony Brook Hg database

Sources Data

Points

% Domestic

Seafood

Date

Range

Geo.

Range

EDF/SB

study ~360 65,000 42%

1878-

2011 Global

FDA 1 4,500 N/A 1991-

2011

Global

(limited)

NMFS 1 7,400 100% 1971-

1978 U.S.

EPA 9 6,900 100% 1990-

2011 U.S.

EDF/Stony Brook Hg database

EDF/SB Database vs. FDA data

FDA under-estimates vs. Hg database

FDA over-estimates vs. Hg database

• Identify new funding to keep Hg database current

•Better data on farmed and imported fish

• Examine intra- and inter-species variability

• In-depth analysis of geographic differences

•Apply same methodology to other seafood contaminants

What Next?

Health risk implications of seafood fraud/mislabeling