Protecting Consumers from Mercury in Fish

The New England Fish Advisory Forum

On May 10th, 2004, the New England Zero Mercury Campaign hosted the New England Fish Advisory Forum at Northeastern University.

The region-wide forum brought together researchers, students, educators and activists, along with agency staff and policymakers from all six New England states to share information, strategies, and ideas about protecting the public from mercury exposure from fish consumption.

The first presentations of the day were from scientists who presented research on the effects of mercury on humans. Dr. Philippe Grandjean, from the Harvard School of Public Health, presented the results of an epidemiological study conducted in the Faroe Islands, that demonstrated the effects of mercury exposure on children from birth to age 14. Dr. Richard Deth, from Northeastern University, presented research on the methylation pathway that demonstrated the cellular level effects of mercury exposure. To view the PowerPoint presentations of the speakers, see below.

The afternoon session reviewed the history of New England wide efforts to eliminate mercury emissions and prevent exposure. The panel of New England state officials highlighted some of the best policies advising the public about the mercury contamination of fish. See below for a complete agenda and links to speakers' presentations.

Participants List: Acrobat PDF file, Microsoft Excel file

Note: If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, you may download it for free.

Protecting Consumers from Mercury in Fish:
The New England Fish Advisory Forum
Agenda - May 10, 2004

Adverse Health Effects of Methyl Mercury Exposure: From Uncertainly to Scientific Consensus (7.88 MB PowerPoint file)

Philippe Grandjean, DMSc, MD, Professor and Chair, Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, and Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health
 — A study on the effects of prenatal mercury exposure. Dr. Grandjean's research, conducted in the Faroe Islands, has assessed the mercury levels and effects of exposure of over 1000 children who were tested at birth, at age 7 and at age 14. The inhabitants of the Faroe Islands, located in the North Atlantic, have a diet largely consisting of whale meat, which is high in mercury. The study found irreversible damage to certain brain functions in the children with higher mercury exposure as well as decreased heart function.

A Molecular Mechanism For Mercury-Induced Neurodevelopmental Toxicity (3.18 MB PowerPoint file)

Dr. Richard Deth, Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Northeastern University
 — Research on the biochemical pathway of mercury exposure explains, from the cellular level, the effect that mercury has on the developing nervous system.

Panel: Promoting Consistent and Protective Advisories Throughout New England

Update on 1998 Mercury Study: Framework for Action Margaret M. Round, Senior Air Toxics Program Analyst, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM)

Presentation on Regulation Regarding Mercury in Fish Advisory (66kb PowerPoint file)

Dr. Larry Block, Chair, Board of Health Swampscott, Massachusetts
 — The Board of Health of Swampscott, Massachusetts has recently passed a regulation that restaurants and grocery stores that sell fish in the town must post advisories about the mercury-contamination of fish. Text of Swampscott Regulation (23kb Acrobat PDF file)

Wild Oats Consumer Advisories about Mercury in Fish

Kristen Woronoff, Marketing Manager Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
 — Wild Oats is the first national grocery store chain to post warnings about mercury-contamination of fish at its seafood counters.

Outreach to Sensitive Populations: Mercury in Fish (1.74mb PowerPoint file)

Karen Knaebel, Mercury Education and Reduction Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
 — Information about the state of Vermont's mercury education program.

SMART Fish Survey Results (13kb Acrobat PDF file)

Sheila Dormody, Rhode Island Director, Clean Water Action
 — Data from an informal survey performed by the New England Zero Mercury Campaign on the extent to which consumers are aware of government warnings about mercury contamination of fish.

Panel: New England State Officials Present Successes and Opportunities in Communicating Effective and Coordinated Fish Advisories

CT: Brian Toal, Connecticut Department of Public Health
MA: Elaine Krueger, Director, Environmental Toxicology Program, Center for Environmental Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
NH: Vickie Shallow, Health Promotion Advisor, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
RI: Robert R. Vanderslice, Ph.D., Chief, Office of Environmental Health Risk Assessment, Rhode Island Department of Health
VT: Karen Knaebel, Mercury Education and Reduction Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

Closing Remarks

Lee Ketelsen, Clean Water Action New England director