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How much mercury is in your sushi?

Before you sink your teeth into that piece of yellowfin sashimi, you might want to consider the tasteless neurotoxin it might contain. Many of the fish used to make sushi are high in mercury, a neurotoxin that interferes with the brain and nervous system. The New York Times recently tested sushi from several Manhattan restaurants and found dangerous levels of mercury.

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should be especially careful about eating sushi. Many of the fish chosen for sushi are the apex predators of the fish food chain, which means they can bear high concentrations of mercury. The amount of mercury in a fish varies depending on the type of fish and where it was caught.

Download NRDC's list of sushi choices highest and lowest in mercury and our guide to eating fish safely and sustainably.

The most common source of mercury exposure for Americans is tuna. Children under six, as well as women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, are the most vulnerable to mercury's harmful effects. They should restrict or eliminate certain fish from their diet, including ahi or bigeye tuna, tilefish, swordfish, shark, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy and fish caught in any waters that are subject to a mercury advisory.

Use NRDC's Mercury Calculator to find out if you're consuming too much mercury. For an accurate reading, you can request a blood mercury test from your physician. Women with a high blood mercury level who are planning to start a family may decide to postpone pregnancy for a few months until levels drop; often this occurs within six months.

Where is it coming from?

Coal-fired power plants and chemical facilities create tons of mercury pollution each year. The airborne mercury settles into oceans and waterways, where it builds up in fish that we eat. Mercury is a persitent pollutant that never dissolves or breaks down, instead it accumulates. Predatory fish such as large tuna, swordfish, shark and mackerel that eat a lot of smaller fish can build up mercury concentrations in their bodies that are 10,000 times higher than those of their surrounding habitat.

To reduce your mercury levels, watch your consumption of high-mercury fish such as tuna and swordfish. To stop mercury at its source, help force power companies switch to pollution-cutting technologies, sign up for renewable energy from your local utility and oppose the construction of any new coal-fired power plants.


Download our guides to mercury in fish and sushi.	Call your electric company and switch to clean energy from renewable sources. Learn more about the sources of mercury pollution and oppose the construction of new coal-fired power plants.	Use NRDC's mercury calculator to estimate whether you and your children are consuming dangerous amounts of mercury and then choose fish wisely to reduce your levels.