Mercury

September Williams' Chasing Mercury Near Porto Portugal

September Williams' Chasing Mercury Near Porto Portugal

The Duro river empties into the sea near Porto -- the Duro estuary is peculiar in that the bottom sediment has less mercury than than the top.. like 7ug -1 vs < 1ug-1  usually settles to the bottom being a heavier metal. The transport in the bottom water is more dissolved that's the upper water which is attached to sediments and salt. Still gorgeous and lots of seafood. In the USA have a look at Fish and Shellfish Advisories and safe eating guidelines on EPA.gov -- if they haven't been removed by the current administration in Washington DC. 

Read More

BREAST MILK IS SAFER THAN FORMULA EVEN IF THERE IS MERCURY CONTAMINATION

BREAST MILK IS SAFER THAN FORMULA EVEN IF THERE IS MERCURY CONTAMINATION

What we do know is that Breast Feeding improves the health of both mothers and babies which far outweighs any toxic effects of mercury-- in most circumstances. IF you are worried and are in an environment where there is know to be high Mercury levels see a clinician. Know that  if Mercury is present ( and there is some everywhere)  Levels go down within in 2-3 months after birth -- and again there is more mercury in cows milk based formula's than in human breast milk.  The damage of not breast feeding an infant is far more lethal in terms of disease  than mercury.  However-- an environment where a mother is exposed to high levels of mercury during pregnancy -- can be dangerous and cause Minamata disease --but that mercury is passed across the placenta into the blood stream of the baby.  But Mercury is poorly transmitted to and through breast milk. If you have the luxury of avoiding mercury ingestion by all means do. But if you have to choose between breast feeding and not -- mercury contamination is not your biggest problem.  You might see the film Breast Milk and follow journalist, writer health communicator Kimberly Seals Allers (author of the Big LetDown). 

Read More