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EPA Report: Mercury Levels Drop In Women

By Sean Lee
WWJ Health Reporter

DETROIT (WWJ) - There are some new numbers out on mercury levels in women.

The report, from the Environmental Protection Agency, shows mercury levels in American women of childbearing age have dropped about a third over the past decade.

Federal health officials think the drop is due to women making more informed choices about what types of seafood are safer to eat.

The EPA also found the percentage of women of childbearing age with blood mercury levels above the "level of concern" fell 65 percent during the study period.

That's despite there being little change in the amount of fish eaten by women during the study period.

The EPA recommends that women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing moms, and young children avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish due to high mercury levels.

The Michigan Department of Community Health provides information about choosing safe fish to eat at this link.

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