Mercury - in food, environment (OT discussion).

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nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 23, 2010 - 03:09pm PT
We started this over in the Bacon thread but it deserves it's own.

It all started with a Javalina......


nature:
Dec 23, 2010 - 10:35am PT
an ElkFest / PigFest combo.


well... one thing for sure... there's no mercury in that meat!


Silver:
Dec 23, 2010 - 11:06am PT
nature well said 100% organic unless we spear the one in your garbage.

Hey on another note what is the deal with the Merc in fish these days? I heard that Sword fish is loaded and should not be consumed and of course Tuna is loaded. Both being apex predators I assume has alot to do with it but interested to hear what you know and how much one should or shouldn't eat of either fish???


nature:

Dec 23, 2010 - 11:06am PT
food in the garbage was probably all organic!

regarding the mercury let me dig a little info out. It's a hot topic in my house - all recommendations from the folks that I trust are telling me to get the mercury out of my mouth.

here's a place to start (somewhat dated but still generally relevant):
http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/product-specificinformation/seafood/foodbornepathogenscontaminants/methylmercury/ucm115644.htm


the source of the fish is not considered in this chart. it may or may not play a part (depends on the species).


Edit: putting in a note to my supplier in Oahu.


Silver:
Dec 23, 2010 - 11:51am PT
Nature I have a great book on Tuna if you would like me to send it to you.

Send me a pm and I will put it in the mail for you after the holidays.

Just curious as I heard the test done on swords was pretty much jaw dropping to the amount of Merc in the samples.

I eat sushi maybe once every couple of months if that but when I do it is all tuna all the time, and all variety of tuna available.



nature:
Dec 23, 2010 - 11:55am PT
I'd love to read that book.


Sword Fish is a bill fin so I'm wondering if they are referring to all of the bill fins or particular species.

this chart verifies your concern. yikes!
http://www.mercury-poison.com/fish_list.htm


I'm sure to get a ton of good info from my contact in Hawaii.



bluering:

Dec 23, 2010 - 12:02pm PT
Regarding mercury in fish;

From Nature's last chart, the higher incidence of it occurs in freshwater species, mostly. Mercury is a naturally occurring element in nature, not Doug. Quicksilver is very invasive in the SF Bay lakes. Signs everywhere cautioning about levels in the lakes' fish.

Now why do sharks and billfish have high levels?

I can see how river runoff from infected lakes will bring it to oceans, but why those 2 big predators?



Nature:
Dec 23, 2010 - 12:06pm PT
Trophic level concentrations.

Sharks eat nothing other than other fish - generally ones that are higher up on the trophic level chain.

that one makes sense to me.


hang on a sec... I hate to go so off topic... time for a new thread.





Silver:
Dec 23, 2010 - 12:07pm PT
EEEEEGADS Nature I was hoping I was dreaming but thats the case I see.

Send me that PM and I will send you the book. Good stuff but somewhat on the science side more than just a happy book about tuna.

TFPU that link. Sad to think that everything is so fricken polluted but after seeing the census and seeing 308 million of us are in the US there really is no wonder why land lock fish are in that chart with moderate levels.


Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 23, 2010 - 03:14pm PT
Yikes is right!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Dec 23, 2010 - 03:16pm PT
It's a fact that Quicksilver (mercury) is very common in the hillsides of the SF Bay Area.

I even heard a tale told to me that the reason native-Americans didn't live so long around here is because of the quicksilver-infested clay/mud they would use was, well, infested with the stuff...

But the stuff DOES leech into the water supply. The problem isn't so much in the water, but the fish we eat that feeds off of smaller prey that feeds off of the bottom, where the heavy metal resides.
nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 03:18pm PT
As part of the discussion I'd like to point out a few things.


First I want to say "I try". I try really hard to know as much about the fish that I serve at my sushi bar as I can. That's generally not the attitude you get in most sushi bars (Mashiko - being a HUGE exception - what an inspiration!).



I long ago swore off farmed Atlantic Salmon. Do the research. You'll find:

It pollutes like almost no other industry.
It uses the highest amount of hormones per unit volume of food produced.
the list of nastiness goes on and on.
http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=15802


I do serve Farmed Salmon at my sushi bar, however.
Farmed Tazmanian Salmon.
http://www.tasmaniansalmon.com.au/media/fact/index.html
They also farm King Salmon down there.
It's an awesome product.


Not all Farmed fish is "bad". Aquaculture is a growing industry and one that will supply the world with more and more of the fish we consume. Aquaculture can produce fish that is "cleaner" than fish in the wild.
http://www.kona-blue.com/





nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 04:11pm PT
How much mercury per year is "okay" to consume?

Good question. one worth considering.


But the answer will vary (which is why you put okay in quotes I'm guessing).

My Chinese Medicine healer probably has a different answer than a doctor of allopathic medicine.


I've got six (or more) opinions on getting the mercury fillings out of my mouth. Not all opinions agreed. Most of them told me get it out and that is what I am doing. Then a chelated cleanse plus the commitment to avoid intaking foods with high amounts.

I didn't realize Swordfish was so high up. Never was a fan of shark but I can now safely say I will never ever eat it again.
nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 04:24pm PT
Trophic level concentration.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Dec 23, 2010 - 04:27pm PT
My wife spouts the best practice line from the pediatric people to her pregger patients:

"No more than two servings per week of any fish." (I'm pretty sure it's two)

If you're not preggers then it is "how crazy ya wanna get?"
nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 04:41pm PT
you can get it out. but you have to be careful.

A chelated cleanes will help remove it. but you have to be careful. work with your naturopath.


Fantastic article, Dingus. TFPU!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Dec 23, 2010 - 04:49pm PT
Anything which eats these fish also consumes the higher level of mercury the fish have accumulated. This process explains why predatory fish such as swordfish and sharks or birds like osprey and eagles have higher concentrations of mercury in their tissue than could be accounted for by direct exposure alone.

A-ha! That's solved...
nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 04:49pm PT
http://www.ehow.com/how_4840907_detox-mercury-body-naturally.html


#4 is particularly interesting as when I told my Chinese Medicine healer about getting the merc amalgam out he said pound 10000 mg of Vit C each day for 10 days leading up to the procedure. He also said eat as much cilantro as I could stomach or get the tincture.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 23, 2010 - 04:50pm PT
"mad as a hatter" was due to mercury used in the hatting trade.


I wonder how much is in javelina toro?
nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 04:55pm PT
that's before. then the chelated cleanse after.

you understand chelation processes, yeah?


cheesy page found in a search:
http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/new/9steps.htm



but good luck find all the scientific evidence you might require, dingus. the allopathic medicine world doesn't work the same way as the naturopathic world (and understatement). Lot's of quacks on both sides of the fence. I'm lucky - Charlie (my Chinese medicine healer) is an amazing. I've seen his work and it's more than enough for me to know I'm in good hands.

Cuz remember, there is absolutely zero scientific (allopathic) evidence that marijuana medicinally useful.
Chaz

Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
Dec 23, 2010 - 04:59pm PT
How bad could mercury in fish be?

Life expectancy goes up every year, as I assume environmental mercury does.
nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 05:04pm PT
Questionable Cause Fallacy of Logic, Chaz

or perhaps:
Ignoring a Common Cause Fallacy


I'm always bad about figuring out which Logical Fallacy is committed. But you've committed at least one.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Dec 23, 2010 - 05:05pm PT
Chaz,
It is clear our life expectancy isn't suffering. But it is also clear that
we're getting nuttier and nuttier so you're probably right about more mercury
in general. Then again, maybe it is due to the fact that you can only
stuff so many rats in a cage before they turn on each other.

edit:

this just in - it isn't the mercury!

Fried Fish May Explain 'Stroke Belt' Mystery

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20101223/sc_livescience/friedfishmayexplainstrokebeltmystery
Chaz

Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
Dec 23, 2010 - 05:18pm PT
"American male life expectancy is not rising."

Overall, worldwide, life expectancy is rising.

All those people eat fish, not just American males.
nature

climber
Tuscon Again! India! India! Hawaii! LA?!?!
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2010 - 05:21pm PT
A) you've assumed mercury concentrations are increasing
b) you've completely left out all other possibilities
c).... awe.... screw c) try a logic class one day.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
Dec 23, 2010 - 05:26pm PT
Thank Gawd for Libtard Environmentalists....

Why, have they banned quicksilver from the environment and fish???

Bastards!
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 23, 2010 - 05:44pm PT
Pull a Piven!
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Dec 23, 2010 - 06:14pm PT
Given the season, should the expression be "nuttier than a fruitcake" instead of "mad as a hatter"?

Then there's the huge problem with illegal fishing of tuna, and resistance by many countries to sustainable management of that fish. Whether or not they're full of mercury.
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