High mercury seafood consumption associated with fatigue at specialty medical clinics on Long Island, NY

Abstract

We investigated the association between seafood consumption and symptoms related to potential mercury toxicity in patients presenting to specialty medical clinics at Stony Brook Medical Center on Long Island, New York. We surveyed 118 patients from April–August 2012 about their seafood consumption patterns, specifically how frequently they were eating each type of fish, to assess mercury exposure. We also asked about symptoms associated with mercury toxicity including depression, fatigue, balance difficulties, or tingling around the mouth. Of the 118 adults surveyed, 14 consumed high mercury seafood (tuna steak, marlin, swordfish, or shark) at least weekly. This group was more likely to suffer from fatigue than other patients (p = 0.02). Logistic regression confirmed this association of fatigue with frequent high mercury fish consumption in both unadjusted analysis (OR = 5.53; 95% CI: 1.40–21.90) and analysis adjusted for age, race, sex, income, and clinic type (OR = 7.89; 95% CI: 1.63–38.15). No associations were observed between fish intake and depression, balance difficulties, or tingling around the mouth. Findings suggest that fatigue may be associated with eating high mercury fish but sample size is small. Larger studies are needed to determine whether fish intake patterns or blood mercury tests warrant consideration as part of the clinical work-up in coastal regions.

Association of Blood Mercury Level with the Risk of Depression According to Fish Intake Level in the General Korean Population: Findings from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2013

“…According to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), the total mercury concentration in fish/shellfish and deep-sea fish should be below 0.5 ppm and 1 ppm, respectively [55]. The Stony Brook Medical Center in New York reported that consumption of high-mercury deep-sea fish such as shark, marlin, swordfish, mackerel, tuna, and tile fish was associated with development of fatigue and depressive symptoms [56]. The results of our stratified analysis showed that the association between blood mercury and depression was predominant at the lowest tertile of fish consumption in females.…”

Mercury concentration in samples of fresh and (processed) canned tuna fish

“…Ilość ta jest mniejsza o ok. 5% w porównaniu do roku 2016, co wynika z niższych cen drobiu i wieprzowiny (tab. 2) [16]. Według prognoz import do Polski zagranicznych produktów pochodzenia morskiego ma wzrastać.…”

“…Na polski rynek sprowadzane są głównie surowe ryby, które następnie są przetwarzane przez lokalnych producentów. Tuńczyk najczęściej jest spożywany przez Polaków w formie puszkowanej [16].…”

In‐depth study of the heme‐binding ability to five heavy metals: Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, and As

“…[2][3][4] Mercury poisoning encephalopathy, which is characterized by numbness of limbs, ataxia, narrowed vision, and hearing difficulties, can result in death from heart failure in severe cases. [5] Cadmium (Cd) is a nonessential metal element in the human body that can cause both acute and chronic toxicity. [6,7] Acute cadmium toxicity manifests as acute gastrointestinal irritation, while chronic cadmium toxicity manifests as the inhibition of macrophage phagocytosis.…”