Over the past few days, we’ve been seeing sporadic reports about a study that was published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that measured the amount of mercury found in the bodies of most Americans.

The report, part of the larger, “Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals,” concluded that there are measurable amounts of mercury in most Americans. According to Medical News Today, one of the few outlets to report the findings, the CDC found the following:

Most of the participants had a measureable amount of mercury in their bodies.

Both blood and urine mercury levels tended to increase with age.

All blood mercury levels were less than 33 g/L.

Blood and urine mercury in the US population were similar to levels seen in other developed countries.

Later, the report also says: “Finding a measurable amount of mercury in blood or urine does not mean that levels of mercury cause an adverse health effect.”

But Medical News Today also mentions that high levels of mercury can be harmful to brain development and heart health.

So what’s the real story?

Jennifer McGuire, NFI’s in-house dietitian, took a look at the report and came away less than impressed. First of all, Jennifer took pains to remind me that this report is about mercury in a vacuum. Not about the health effects of eating fish. She also told me that the levels found are far lower than what we believe can cause any deleterious effect. Jennifer said, “One of the only studies about what happens when you eat seafood that the CDC reflected upon is Faroes, which we know, is a study based on the consumption of whale meat [not fish]. The connection between mercury and heart disease is unresolved, while the connection between fish and prevention of heart disease is among the most strongly supported. Part of me is troubled that a more thorough and up-to-date review of the current seafood science wasnt included in this report. And part of me is glad because it further proves that this report isnt about seafood or nutrition science. Its about mercury and other toxic substances. Again, NOTHING new in here about how eating fish effects health, good, bad, or otherwise.”

Thanks to Jennifer for helping to sort this one out.

In the past, we’ve seen studies like these distorted by activist groups, and we expect that will be the case this time as well. Watch this space for updates.