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Cambodian | Chinese
Hmong | Korean
Portuguese | Vietnamese
(About PDF, 2 pages)
This brochure provides guidance to women of child-bearing age and children on selecting and eating fish to avoid exposure to harmful effects of mercury. (March 2004; additional languages: March 2006)
Fish are a lean, low-calorie source of protein. However, some fish may contain chemicals that could pose health risks. When contaminant levels are unsafe, consumption advisories may recommend that people limit or avoid eating certain species of fish caught in certain places.
2007 National Fish Forum Proceedings now available. The Fish Forum is an annual event bringing together public health and environmental professionals from states, tribes, and other interested groups to discuss the many issues related to contaminants in fish.
National Listing of Advisories - 2005/2006 data (July 2007)
We are making available to the public our compendium of information on locally issued fish advisories and safe eating guidelines.
What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish | en español (March 2004). FDA and EPA consumption advice on mercury in Fish and Shellfish. Background and additional information.
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Alternate translations of the What You Need to Know brochure are available:
- Cambodian (PDF) (2 pages, 647 K)
- Chinese (PDF) (2 pages, 810 K)
- Hmong (PDF) (2 pages, 832 K)
- Korean (PDF) (2 pages, 789 K)
- Portuguese (PDF) (2 pages, 874 K)
- Vietnamese (PDF) (2 pages, 1.0 MB)
Hard copies of these brochures can also be ordered for free from the National Center for Environmental Publications (email: nscep@bps-lmit.com) or by calling (800) 490-9198.
"Fish For Your Health" magnets now available! This magnet provides the EPA Fish Advisories website address and a message on the risks and benefits of fish consumption. You can order these complimentary magnets from the National Center for Environmental Publications (nscep@bps-lmit.com) or call (800) 490-9198. Specify document #EPA-823-E-05-003 when ordering.
EPA's Office of Water and the Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance collaboration between FDA and EPA (PDF) (3 pages, 557 K) regarding environmental contaminants in fish and shellfish and the safety of fish and shellfish for U.S. consumers (June 2005).
Links to Local Fish Advisory Programs
Find information about fish advisory programs in your area.
Popular Items
- Federal, State & Tribal Contacts - Contact your local fish advisory program coordinator.
- Fish Advisory Newsletter
- Proceedings from the 2004 National Forum on Contaminants in Fish (December 2004)
- Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for Use in Fish Advisories - to help state, local, regional, and tribal environmental health officials who are responsible for developing and managing fish consumption advisories.
- Fish Tissue Human Health Water Quality Criterion for Methylmercury
The criterion is a concentration of methylmercury in fish that is expected to be without appreciable risk to human health. States and tribes may use the criterion as the basis for establishing water quality standards.