Who should be most cautious of mercury exposure from fish?
It's very important to follow fish consumption advisories if you're pregnant, or if you're planning to become pregnant, because the half life of mercury in the body is about two months. Which means that it takes a long time to clear out of your system so that even before you think about becoming pregnant, if you're a woman of child bearing age, you should only eat the right fish. Fish is important to eat during pregnancy because it's got nutrients that are very important for brain development, however, mercury counteracts that and it can really be a drag on brain development. The most damaging effects of mercury are on the developing fetus because brain development is at a critical stage during that time and in the first couple of years of life as the brain is still evolving. And so, pregnant women and young children should avoid mercury to the greatest extent possible. People often ask about breast milk, and there are so many benefits from breast feeding including; positive affects on the immune system and neurodevelopment that women should always nurse their children if at all possible. However, nursing mothers should also decrease their exposure to mercury by eating the right fish.
