Mercury In Seafood Pretest

1. Which of the following is true about mercury in fish and shellfish?

All fish tend to have the same levels of mercury.

Larger fish tend to have higher levels of mercury.

Bottom-feeding fish tend to have higher levels of mercury.

Shellfish tend to have higher levels of mercury.

Larger fish tend to be predators and are further up the food chain. As a result, when they consume smaller fish, they accumulate mercury at a faster rate than their bodies can metabolize and remove it from their systems. This process is called bioaccumulation.

Explanation

Larger fish tend to be predators and are further up the food chain. As a result, when they consume smaller fish, they accumulate mercury at a faster rate than their bodies can metabolize and remove it from their systems. This process is called bioaccumulation.

2. Which of the following seafood items has the highest level of mercury?

Salmon

Oysters

Shrimp

Swordfish

Swordfish has one of the highest levels of mercury and should be avoided.

Explanation

Swordfish has one of the highest levels of mercury and should be avoided.

3. Which of the following are NOT a special population that need to take extra precautions regarding seafood consumption?

Premenopausal women

Elderly men

Nursing women

Young children

All women of childbearing age and young children should take precautions regarding consumption of mercury in seafood.

Explanation

All women of childbearing age and young children should take precautions regarding consumption of mercury in seafood.

4. Why is methylmercury dangerous to the human body?

It causes anemia among women.

It harms the nervous systems of young children.

It is the leading cause of juvenile diabetes.

It is a known carcinogen

Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that can damage the nervous systems of fetuses young children.

Explanation

Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that can damage the nervous systems of fetuses young children.

5. Rebecca is a 120lb college sophomore who does not plan on having children in the immediate future. This week she had a tuna sandwich (3oz chunk light canned tuna) , a salmon fillet (6oz salmon), and shrimp stirfry (6oz shrimp).

Use the information above and the NRDC Mercury Calculator to determine how her mercury intake for this week compares to the recommended guidelines. The mercury calculator will open in a separate window. When you are finished, return to this page to submit your answer.

Her mercury consumption was above the "safety zone"; she should reduce her intake for next week to compensate.

Her mercury consumption was within the "safety zone"; she could have eaten more seafood this week.

Her mercury consumption met the recommended guidelines exactly; she should not have consumed any more seafood this week.

Her mercury consumption is unable to be determined.

As a woman of childbearing age, even if she does not plan on having children, Rebecca is considered part of the special populations that need to take extra precautions and monitor mercury consumption in seafood. By choosing seafood options that are low in mercury and small portions, she falls below the recommended guidelines and could possibly have eaten more seafood this week.

Explanation

As a woman of childbearing age, even if she does not plan on having children, Rebecca is considered part of the special populations that need to take extra precautions and monitor mercury consumption in seafood. By choosing seafood options that are low in mercury and small portions, she falls below the recommended guidelines and could possibly have eaten more seafood this week.