Previous mercury-poisoning incidents had occurred in Iraq in 19. Methylmercury had been banned in Sweden in 1966, the first country to do so, and the United Kingdom followed in 1971. The properties of mercury make it an effective fungicide. Investigation confirmed the particular danger posed to fetuses and young children. Reports after the disaster recommended tighter regulation, better labelling and handling of mercury-treated grain, and wider involvement of the World Health Organization in monitoring and preventing poisoning incidents. The 1971 poisoning was the largest mercury poisoning disaster when it occurred, with cases peaking in January and February 1972 and stopping by the end of March. The recorded death toll was 459 people, but figures at least ten times greater have been suggested. People suffered from paresthesia (numbness of skin), ataxia (lack of coordination of muscle movements) and vision loss, symptoms similar to those seen when Minamata disease affected Japan. Due to a number of factors, including foreign-language labelling and late distribution within the growing cycle, this toxic grain was consumed as food by Iraqi residents in rural areas. Grain treated with a methylmercury fungicide and never intended for human consumption was imported into Iraq as seed grain from Mexico and the United States. The 1971 Iraq poison grain disaster was a mass methylmercury poisoning incident that began in late 1971. Note the labelling in Spanish, and the grain's distinctive orange-pink colour. Visit RIDEM website for more details on safe shellfish consumption.Incident of mass poisoning in Iraq in 1971 A sack of "pink grain". Only gather shellfish from areas that are approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM)for shellfishing. They should be properly cooked or they can make you sick (bacterial infection). Shellfish you buy are nutritious and low in chemical pollutants. Trout and Sunfish (e.g., Pumpkinseed, Blue Gill) you catch from Rhode Island lakes and streams are generally safe to eat. Avoid fish from the Woonasquatucket River south of Smithfield and limit consumption of top predators like Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, or Pickerel. The type of fish you catch and where you catch it is important. Fish from urban areas of Rhode Island sometimes have other contaminants. moreįreshwater fish caught in rural areas of Rhode Island can have mercury levels that are a concern. The list of best choices, good alternatives, and seafood to avoid also applies to saltwater fish you catch yourself. Saltwater fish from Rhode Island waters has the same benefits and similar levels of pollutants as fish you buy. You can further limit the risk by considering the types of fish you eat. Different types of fish have different levels of pollutants. The levels of these pollutants are low enough that the health benefits of fish consumption outweigh the risk of health effects, except in extreme cases. Other pollutants that are sometimes found in fish can cause cancer or other health problems. Mercury is found in nearly all fish and is the biggest concern for eating fish. Mercury can harm brain development at relatively low levels and can be toxic to adults at high levels. Mercury and other pollutants can build up in the bodies of living things, especially larger fish people often eat. Health Risks What about pollutants in fish?įish are good to eat, but some have higher levels of toxins than others. These supplements provide the long chain omega-3 fatty acids the body needs, but do not provide the other benefits of dietary fish consumption. Supplements, such as cod liver oil, prenatal vitamins, and those added to baby formula, are also a good alternative. Seaweed and algae are another good option because they have many of the same nutrients as fish, including the same omega-3 fatty acids, and are less likely to have pollutants. Learn more by reading this guidance on eating fish safely. RIDOH has developed guidance on what fish are best to eat often and what fish should be eaten less often. Other adults should eat at least two servings of seafood. Women of childbearing age should eat two to three servings each week and children older than age two should try to eat about two servings of seafood from the "best choices" list each week. Seafood also contains high levels of protein and other nutrients. Pregnant and breastfeeding women who eat fish pass these nutrients to their baby, supporting healthy brain and eye development. Eating Fish Safely What you should do Eat fish as part of a balanced dietįish, shellfish, and seaweed contain omega-3 fatty acids that aren’t found in other foods and that can improve heart and brain health for people of all ages.
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