Should the Risks of Fish Intake Override the Benefits?

1614 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Benefits of organic food in human health

Many consumers today are confused about the controversy about fish and its health effects. Researchers have discovered that fish contains methyl mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and dioxins that may put one’s health at risk (“Harvard College”). The industrial processes cause mercury to be released into the air, then the chemical ends up in the lakes. Therefore, the contaminants come from bacteria that live in lakes that are then absorbed in species. When people consume fish, they are also taking in bacteria that came from unspecialized lakes indirectly through fish consumption. Although people could be harmed by eating contaminated fish, a diet that includes fish can also benefit the body. Fish has become especially popular because the omega-3 fatty acids it contains support cardiovascular health. Omega-3 is essential to the development of brain functions and normal growth. The intake of safe amounts of fish can decrease the chances of stroke, arthritis, and chronic diseases. Although fish contains mercury and dioxins that can damage nerves in humans, the trade-off benefit of the intake of omega-3 from fish can outweigh the risks. Concerns about contamination found in fish can pose a threat to its consumers and put their outcomes at risk. Fish are known to contain the chemicals mercury, dioxins, and PCBS that can be harmful to individuals. These chemicals may build up in a person’s body after years of eating highly contaminated fish that can result to one’s health concern. “In America one-in-six children born every year have been exposed to mercury levels so high that they are potentially at risk for learning disabilities and motor skill impairment and short-term memory loss” (“Mercury in”). This statistic shows that inf... ... middle of paper ... ...ted. Ed. Christina Roache. Harvard Public Health, Mar. 2006. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. Ehrlich, Steven D. “Omega-3 Fatty Acids.” University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 5 May 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. “Experts Say Benefits of Eating Fish Outweigh Possible Risks.” Harvard Women’s Health Watch 14.6 (2007): 6-7. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 25 Oct. 2011 “Fish: Friend or Foe?” Harvard School of Public Health. The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2011. n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. Gardner, Amanda. “Study: Mercury in Fish Poses No Heart Risk.” Cnn.com. CNN, 23 Mar. 2011. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. “Mercury in Fish”. Science and Health. Public Affairs Television, 21 Jan. 2005. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. Squires, Sally. Benefits of Fish Exceed Risks, Studies Find. Washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2006. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.

Show More
Related

  • Fish Oil Essay

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    The purpose of this report is to explore the controversial dispute between the quality of two different forms of fish oil supplementation; Triglyceride (TG) and Ethyl Ester (EE). Fish oil can be implemented into a diet by eating either fish or taking supplements. Fish oil is extracted from selected fish that contain highly beneficial healthy oils known as omega-3 fatty acids, two of the most important omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish oil are Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA). Some of these fish that contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids include Tuna, Salmon, Mackerel, Herring, Anchovy’s etc. Fish oil supplementation also often contains small amounts of vitamin E to prevent spoilage and is can be combined with various other minerals and vitamins. There is an array of benefits that are involved when implementing fish oil into a diet; although it’s most common association is that it has been linked to slightly lowering blood pressure or triglyceride levels (fats linked to cholesterol). Although fish oil is recommended for persons with high blood pressure, it’s extremely important to remember that it is only to be taken at recommended dosages as it can ironically increase the chances of stroke when overdosing on the supplement. The scope of this report includes a general comparison between TG and EE fish oil supplements and how they are chemically differentiated, with a focus on how the quality of the two forms of supplement are processed. This report will not focus on other forms of fish oil sources and the impact it might have on irreversible factors such as age, gender, genetics, race/culture or environmental conditions.

    Read More

  • Dangerous Chmicals in Slow Death by Rubber Duck

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ross, P. R., Jeffries, S. J., Yunker, M. B., Ikonomou, M. G., & Calambokidis, J. C. (2004). Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA, reveal a combination of local and global polychlorinated biphenyl, dioxin, and furan signals. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 23(1), 157-165. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1897/03-85/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

    Read More

  • Healthy Manatees: A Case Study

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    As mentioned before, brevetoxins can cause human respiratory and digestive illness, and consumption of brevetoxin-contaminated fish and mollusks is associated with neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP). According to the data, people in Sarasota, Florida visited the hospital emergency department for digestive illnesses during red tide outbreaks increased by 40% in 2001 relative to in 2002 when there was no red tide bloom (Hoagland, et al., 2014). In addition, multiple substantial effects of brevetoxin immunotonicity are postulated by scientists, such as the inhibition of cathepsin active sites, apoptosis, the release of inflammatory mediators, cell cycle, and oxidative stress. Several effects listed before can have profound problems on human health such as apoptosis, cell cycle and oxidative stress can lead to cancer. The experimental results suggest that the apoptosis postulation is based on the in vitro assay that DNA damage was observed in human lymphocytes treated with brevetoxins and several apoptotic gene expressions were altered in brevetoxin exposed Jurkat cells. The oxidative stress will result in the depletion of glutathione in U-937 human monocyte cell line treated with PbTx-2. Also, DNA strands breakage and chromosome aberrations were observed under oxidative stress (Fleming et al.,

    Read More

  • Endocrine Disruptors

    1741 Words  | 4 Pages

    Evidence provided to support these claims of human and wildlife harm is largely from laboratory studies in which large doses are fed to test animals, usually rats or mice, and field studies of wildlife species that have been exposed to the chemicals mentioned above. In laboratory studies, high doses are required to give weak hormone activity. These doses are not likely to be encountered in the environment. However the process of bioaccumulation can result in top-level predators such as humans to have contaminants at levels many million times greater than the environmental background levels (Guilette 1994). In field studies, toxicity caused by endocrine disruption has been associated with the presence of certain pollutants. Findings from such studies include: reproductive disruption in starfish due to PCBs, bird eggshell thinning due to DDT, reproductive failure in mink, small penises in alligators due to DDT and dicofol (Guillette 1994, Colburn et al 1996). In addition, a variety of reproductive problems in many other species are claimed to be associated with environmental contamination although the specific causative agents have not been determined. One recent discovery that complicates the situation is that there are many naturally occurring "phytoestrogens", or chemicals of plant origin that exhibit weak estrogenic properties.

    Read More

  • Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification: Minamata Disease

    1982 Words  | 4 Pages

    Methylmercury Contamination in Fish, CSA - Discovery Guides. 2014. Methylmercury Contamination in Fish, CSA - Discovery Guides. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/mercury/review5.php. [Accessed 04 April 2014].

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Overfishing

    1623 Words  | 4 Pages

    Overfishing is a harmful practice, that will eventually lead to the collapse of aquatic ecosystems, if it’s not dealt with promptly. Overfishing emerges from the combination of our over consumptive society mixed with the great profits that come from hauling in a good catch. The consumers demand for fish in Japan seems to be at an increasingly high rate due to the enjoyment and cultural values that arise from sushi and other traditional dishes involving seafood. Approximately 23 percent of Japan’s protein intake comes from the ocean, and as a nation consumes 7.5 million tonnes of seafood annually. CITATION

    Read More

  • The Mediterranean Diet

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Patterson, R. E., Flatt, S. W., Newman, V. A., Natarajan, L., Rock, C. L., Thomson, C. A., et al. (2011). Marine Fatty Acid Intake Is Associated with Breast Cancer Prognosis. The journal of nutrition , 141 (2), 201-206.

    Read More

  • Mercury and its Effects on Humans

    1855 Words  | 4 Pages

    Together the causes of mercury, and the effects mercury has on the human body prove that mercury is a dangerous metal. The actually effects of mercury and how they get into the human body still overshadow the actions taken to avoid mercury and its effects. The above paragraphs show good reason why the numbers of products in the household containing mercury are decreasing as the years go by. They also provide reasonable doubt as to why such a potentially dangerous metal was ever used in common household products. Such a question may never be answered, however many people may sleep better at night knowing that the question will never have to be answered, sleeping in a mercury free home.

    Read More

  • Raw Seafood and Human Health

    1531 Words  | 4 Pages

    Seafood has been an important part of the human diet since the first hunter-gatherers realized they could use fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals as a food source. Now, almost 10,000 years later, seafood comprises a major part of animal protein consumption all over the world (Huss et al. 2000). In fact, global seafood consumption has been on the rise within the last two decades. The number of consumed seafood products rose from 140 million tons in 2007, to 145 million tons in 2009 (White 2011). This increase in consumption can be contributed to the many health benefits that have been attributed to the consumption of seafood.

    Read More

  • Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unfortunately, our fish supply is becoming more and more contaminated with pollutants and toxins like mercury, PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals and radioactive poisons. A solution to consider is getting your animal-based Omega-3 fats from krill oil or krill oil supplements, not only because of the superior efficacy, oxidation protection and absorption, but also because krill is a completely sustainable and environmentally friendly resource.

    Read More

  • Mercury Pollution and Its Effects on the Ecological Environment

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine that every fish you have been eating and every fish on the market is contaminated with mercury; would you want to take action to improve this situation in order for yourself and everyone else to have healthy fish to eat? Most of the fish today are exposed to mercury, and mercury toxicity threatens the health of everyone who eats fish. Mercury pollution has been a well known ocean pollution for many years, and United States remain to be one of the top nations with the most severe mercury contamination. Government needs to cease all industrial activities that cause mercury pollution by setting up regulations since mercury threatens marine ecological environment.

    Read More

  • HUMAN AND NATURE IN A CONSTANT WAR FOR CENTURIES. EVENTUALLY NATURE WILL WIN

    645 Words  | 2 Pages

    3-)People Who Eat More Fish Live Longer. (cover story). (2013). Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, 31(5), 1.

    Read More

  • Fish Farming Persuasive Essay

    1799 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fish are highly efficient converters of feed into body mass; mostly nutritious protein. Fish also provide many vitamins and minerals in easily assimilated forms. Oily fish such as Atlantic salmon additionally are rich in the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA known to be beneficial for health. These come from marine raw materials, fishmeal and fish oil, in the diet of many aquaculture species. Therefore aquaculture can be farmed easily while providing great nutrition for the growing

    Read More

  • Fish And Shellfish Essay

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental

    Read More

  • Fishing: The Most Important Livelihood Consequences Of The Fishing Industry In India

    1573 Words  | 4 Pages

    With the advent of planning in India, considerable attention has been devoted to reduce individual as well as regional income disparities. The allocation of resources for fisheries sector in each successive five year plan has been increased with a view to augment marine fish production and to improve the socio-economic conditions of fishermen.[5] Fishing has been one of the oldest economic activities of human race. It comes next only to agriculture. Fish and other sea food constitute an enchantingly integral part of a wholesome food provision. Specially, fishes of several varieties serve as tasty and healthy food with rice protein and fat content. The ‘omega’ a chemical element found in fish has immense medicinal value. Experts believe that such properties of fish could be consumed even by persons having heart problems.[6]

    Read More

More about Should the Risks of Fish Intake Override the Benefits?

Open Document