Blood Methylmercury and Fish Consumption Among People of Childbearing Age in the General U.S. Population: EPA Report

This report presents the results of an EPA analysis of blood mercury and fish consumption data for 1999 through 2020 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for U.S. women 16-49 years of age. A key finding is that while the estimated amount of fish reported eaten in 2013-2020 was higher than in 1999-2010, the mercury concentrations in blood and estimated mercury intake from fish consumption was lower in 2013-2020 when compared to 1999-2010. This finding suggests that women of childbearing age are choosing to eat types of fish known to typically contain less mercury, leading to lower estimates of mercury intake per unit body weight in 2013-2020 when compared to the results from 1999-2010.

• Read the report.