Mercury in Fish - Levels of Contamination

Levels of Contamination

Mercury levels in commercial fish and shellfish
species Mean
(ppm)		 Std dev
(ppm)		 Median
(ppm)		 Comment Trophic
level		 Max age
(years)
Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico) 1.450 n/a n/a 3.6 35
Swordfish 0.995 0.539 0.870 4.5 15
Shark 0.979 0.626 0.811
Mackerel (king) 0.730 n/a n/a 4.5 14
Tuna (bigeye) 0.689 0.341 0.560 Fresh/frozen 4.5 11
Orange roughy 0.571 0.183 0.562 4.3 149
Marlin * 0.485 0.237 0.390 4.5
Mackerel (Spanish) 0.454 n/a n/a Gulf of Mexico 4.5 5
Grouper 0.448 0.278 0.399 All species 4.2
Tuna 0.391 0.266 0.340 All species, fresh/frozen
Bluefish 0.368 0.221 0.305 4.5 9
Sablefish 0.361 0.241 0.265 3.8 114
Tuna (albacore) 0.358 0.138 0.360 Fresh/frozen 4.3 9
Patagonian toothfish 0.354 0.299 0.303 4.0 50+
Tuna (yellowfin) 0.354 0.231 0.311 Fresh/frozen 4.3 9
Tuna (albacore) 0.350 0.128 0.338 Canned 4.3 9
Croaker white 0.287 0.069 0.280 Pacific 3.4
Halibut 0.241 0.225 0.188 4.3
Weakfish 0.235 0.216 0.157 Sea trout 3.8 17
Scorpionfish 0.233 0.139 0.181
Mackerel (Spanish) 0.182 n/a n/a South Atlantic 4.5
Monkfish 0.181 0.075 0.139 4.5 25
Snapper 0.166 0.244 0.113
Bass 0.152 0.201 0.084 Striped, black and sea bass 3.9
Perch 0.150 0.112 0.146 Freshwater 4.0
Tilefish (Atlantic) 0.144 0.122 0.099 3.6 35
Tuna (skipjack) 0.144 0.119 0.150 Fresh/frozen 3.8 12
Buffalofish 0.137 0.094 0.120
Skate 0.137 n/a n/a
Tuna 0.128 0.135 0.078 All species, canned, light
Perch (ocean) * 0.121 0.125 0.102
Cod 0.111 0.152 0.066 3.9 22
Carp 0.110 0.099 0.134
Lobster (American) 0.107 0.076 0.086
Sheephead (California) 0.093 0.059 0.088
Lobster (spiny) 0.093 0.097 0.062
Whitefish 0.089 0.084 0.067
Mackerel (chub) 0.088 n/a n/a Pacific 3.1
Herring 0.084 0.128 0.048 3.2 21
Jacksmelt 0.081 0.103 0.050 3.1
Hake 0.079 0.064 0.067 4.0
Trout 0.071 0.141 0.025 Freshwater
Crab 0.065 0.096 0.050 Blue, king and snow crab
Butterfish 0.058 n/a n/a 3.5
Flatfish * 0.056 0.045 0.050 Flounder, plaice and sole
Haddock 0.055 0.033 0.049 Atlantic
Whiting 0.051 0.030 0.052
Mackerel (Atlantic) 0.050 n/a n/a
Croaker (Atlantic) 0.065 0.050 0.061
Mullet 0.050 0.078 0.014
Shad (American) 0.039 0.045 0.045
Crawfish 0.035 0.033 0.012
Pollock 0.031 0.089 0.003
Catfish 0.025 0.057 0.005 3.9 24
Squid 0.023 0.022 0.016
Salmon * 0.022 0.034 0.015 Fresh/frozen
Anchovies 0.017 0.015 0.014 3.1
Sardine 0.013 0.015 0.010 2.7
Tilapia * 0.013 0.023 0.004
Oyster 0.012 0.035 n/d
Clam * 0.009 0.011 0.002
Salmon * 0.008 0.017 n/d Canned
Scallop 0.003 0.007 n/d
Shrimp * 0.001 0.013 0.009 6.5

U.S. government scientists tested fish in 291 streams around the country for mercury contamination. They found mercury in every fish tested, according to the study by the U.S. Department of the Interior. They found mercury even in fish of isolated rural waterways. Twenty five percent of the fish tested had mercury levels above the safety levels determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for people who eat the fish regularly.

Read more about this topic:  Mercury In Fish

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