Mercury Levels Dropping for Expectant Mothers - East Idaho News

Mercury Levels Dropping for Expectant Mothers

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Getty 112013 PregnantWoman?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1384988129163Blend Images – Peathegee Inc (WASHINGTON) — A report released Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency shows mercury blood levels in expectant moms dropped 34 percent over the past ten years.

More pregnant women are eating seafood containing less mercury, like shrimp, catfish, canned light tuna, and salmon, according to the report.

But Elizabeth Sullivan from the EPA said plenty of women remain at risk.

“We are still seeing women that are above a level of concern and, in fact, we’re estimating 1.4 million may have blood mercury concentrations that increase the risk of learning disabilities,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said high mercury blood levels during pregnancy can affect an infant’s mental development, including “cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, and fine motor, and visual facial skill problems.”

According to Sullivan, as many as 75,000 newborns may be affected every year.

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