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. 2010 Oct;56(10):1001-2.

Fish consumption in pregnancy and fetal risks of methylmercury toxicity

Gideon Koren  1 , John R Bend
Affiliations

Fish consumption in pregnancy and fetal risks of methylmercury toxicity

Gideon Koren et al. Can Fam Physician. 2010 Oct.

Abstract
in English, French

Question: Because I practise in a rural area with a large number of lakes, I have patients planning pregnancy who consume relatively large amounts of fish harvested by their families. What should be my advice to them?

Answer: A recent Motherisk study has shown that fairly commonly these women's mercury levels exceed the threshold level for cognitive effects. Women should not consume excessive amounts of seafood in pregnancy (ie, no more than 2 weekly average size servings). Hair mercury level above 0.3 μg/g indicates a potentially excessive body burden.

QUESTION Je pratique la médecine dans une région rurale où se trouvent beaucoup de lacs, et plusieurs de mes patientes qui planifient une grossesse consomment d’assez grandes quantités de poissons pêchés par les membres de leur famille. Quels conseils devrais-je leur donner?

RÉPONSE Une récente étude par Motherisk révèle qu’il est assez fréquent de trouver chez ces femmes des taux de mercure qui dépassent le seuil recommandé pour éviter des effets cognitifs. Les femmes ne devraient pas consommer des quantités excessives de poissons durant la grossesse (c.-à-d. pas plus de 2 portions moyennes par semaine). Un taux de mercure capillaire de plus de 0,3 μg/g indique une charge corporelle potentiellement excessive.

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