HR1134 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1134 LRB094 20175 LJB 57978 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Mercury is a persistent and toxic pollutant that bioaccumulates in the environment; and

WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have found that mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment and is also released into the air through industrial pollution; mercury that falls from the air can accumulate in streams and oceans; bacteria in the water causes chemical changes that transform mercury into methylmercury; fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters; methylmercury builds up more in some fish than in others depending on what they eat, how long they live, and how high up the food chain they are; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health recognizes that the developing nervous systems of fetuses and children could be damaged if exposed to even small amounts of methylmercury; at high doses, methylmercury can affect the central nervous system, causing such health problems as memory loss and slurred speech, and can cause kidney damage and failure and gastrointestinal damage; the possible health effects depend on how much methylmercury is stored in the fish and how much fish is eaten over a period of time; based on the amounts of methylmercury detected in predator sport fish in Illinois, it is unlikely that people would experience adverse health effects associated with exposure to high doses; and

WHEREAS, Forty-one states, including Illinois, have issued fish advisories that warn certain individuals to restrict or avoid consuming fish from bodies of water contaminated with methylmercury; and

WHEREAS, The FDA and EPA recommend that if you are pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or a young child, you should not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of methylmercury; and

WHEREAS, The FDA and EPA recommend that if you are pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or a young child, you should eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in methylmercury; and

WHEREAS, The FDA and EPA recognize that 5 commonly eaten fish that are low in methylmercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish and that another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna, has more methylmercury than canned light tuna and should only be eaten in amounts of 6 ounces (one average meal) per week; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge commercial food markets that sell fish or shellfish to post a notice warning of methylmercury in fish and shellfish; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the we urge the Department of Public Health to create a sample warning to be provided to commercial food markets incorporating the following points:

"Fish and shellfish are important parts of a healthy and balanced diet. They are good sources of high quality protein and other nutrients. However, depending on the amount and type of fish you consume, it may be prudent to modify your diet if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, nursing, or a young child. With a few simple adjustments, you can continue to enjoy these foods in a manner that is healthy and beneficial and reduce your unborn or young child's exposure to the harmful effects of mercury at the same time.

By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury:

(1) Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

(2) Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna, has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

(3) Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.".