Bon appetit!

thomas · Jun 28, 2002, 20:48

Reported by the New Scientist Print Edition, June 6, 2002:

Extreme mercury levels revealed in whalemeat

Tests on whalemeat on sale in Japan have revealed astonishing levels of mercury. While it has long been known that the animals accumulate heavy metals such as mercury in their tissues, the levels discovered have surprised even the experts.

Two of the 26 liver samples examined contained over 1970 micrograms of mercury per gram of liver. That is nearly 5000 times the Japanese government's limit for mercury contamination, 0.4 micrograms per gram.

At these concentrations, a 60-kilogram adult eating just 0.15 grams of liver would exceed the weekly mercury intake considered safe by the World Health Organization, say Tetsuya Endo, Koichi Haraguchi and Masakatsu Sakata at the University of Hokkaido, who carried out the research. "Acute intoxication could result from a single ingestion," they warn in a draft paper accepted for publication in The Science of the Total Environment.

The researchers call on the government to impose tighter regulations on the consumption of whale organs. In particular, they warn that pregnant women risk poisoning their unborn children. In the 1950s and early 1960s, hundreds of children around Japan's Minamata Bay were born with horrific birth defects after their mothers ate seafood contaminated with mercury compounds, which had been poured raw into the bay since the 1930s. Thousands more suffered brain damage.

Single mouthful

Even veteran researchers from the Minamata saga were shocked by the new figures. "Hirokatsu Akagi, a director of the National Institute for Minamata Disease, was very surprised," says Endo. "He'd never seen levels above 20 micrograms per gram."

On average, concentrations of mercury in whale and dolphin livers were 370 micrograms per gram, 900 times the government limit. Average levels in kidneys and lungs were also high, about 100 times the limit. None of the samples was below the limit.

In work not yet published, Endo's team has shown that rats suffered acute kidney poisoning after a single mouthful of the most highly contaminated liver. While levels were lower in muscle, Endo told New Scientist that on average it still contained 2.5 to 25 times the limit.

The samples came from small-toothed whales and dolphins, catches of which are not restricted by the International Whaling Commission, the international body that regulates whaling. Mercury becomes concentrated in their internal organs when they eat contaminated fish and squid.

Japan continues to campaign vigorously to be allowed to resume full-scale whaling of larger species. But an IWC meeting in May 2002 ended in deadlock.

Copyright © New Scientist

samuraitora · Jun 28, 2002, 21:23

simply amazing

larry_s · Jun 29, 2002, 01:26

Looking forward to the response of the whaling lobby...

moyashi · Jul 19, 2002, 19:28

They'll probably just ignore it or say that we don't eat dolphins and small-toothed whales.

Maciamo · Jul 22, 2002, 12:13

Let's hope that whale and dolphin eaters get poisoned by their own stupidity. Anyway, if millions of Japanese people don't mind taking the risk of dying by eating fugu (here it's not just intoxication, but death within a few minutes), what will deter fanatic whale consumers, I wonder...

ghettocities · Jan 16, 2003, 19:05

I was recently in Japan and everyone back in america kept telling me to eat whale, so i did what not many people get to due since it's banned in most countries and ate "Kujira" or whale, it was delicous and we ran up quite the bill at Stadium Kitchen in Kamata, check out my photos and you'll see.

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Jun 28, 2002, 20:48	#1
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Bon appetit! Reported by the New Scientist Print Edition, June 6, 2002: Extreme mercury levels revealed in whalemeat Tests on whalemeat on sale in Japan have revealed astonishing levels of mercury. While it has long been known that the animals accumulate heavy metals such as mercury in their tissues, the levels discovered have surprised even the experts. Two of the 26 liver samples examined contained over 1970 micrograms of mercury per gram of liver. That is nearly 5000 times the Japanese government's limit for mercury contamination, 0.4 micrograms per gram. At these concentrations, a 60-kilogram adult eating just 0.15 grams of liver would exceed the weekly mercury intake considered safe by the World Health Organization, say Tetsuya Endo, Koichi Haraguchi and Masakatsu Sakata at the University of Hokkaido, who carried out the research. "Acute intoxication could result from a single ingestion," they warn in a draft paper accepted for publication in The Science of the Total Environment. The researchers call on the government to impose tighter regulations on the consumption of whale organs. In particular, they warn that pregnant women risk poisoning their unborn children. In the 1950s and early 1960s, hundreds of children around Japan's Minamata Bay were born with horrific birth defects after their mothers ate seafood contaminated with mercury compounds, which had been poured raw into the bay since the 1930s. Thousands more suffered brain damage. Single mouthful Even veteran researchers from the Minamata saga were shocked by the new figures. "Hirokatsu Akagi, a director of the National Institute for Minamata Disease, was very surprised," says Endo. "He'd never seen levels above 20 micrograms per gram." On average, concentrations of mercury in whale and dolphin livers were 370 micrograms per gram, 900 times the government limit. Average levels in kidneys and lungs were also high, about 100 times the limit. None of the samples was below the limit. In work not yet published, Endo's team has shown that rats suffered acute kidney poisoning after a single mouthful of the most highly contaminated liver. While levels were lower in muscle, Endo told New Scientist that on average it still contained 2.5 to 25 times the limit. The samples came from small-toothed whales and dolphins, catches of which are not restricted by the International Whaling Commission, the international body that regulates whaling. Mercury becomes concentrated in their internal organs when they eat contaminated fish and squid. Japan continues to campaign vigorously to be allowed to resume full-scale whaling of larger species. But an IWC meeting in May 2002 ended in deadlock. Copyright © New Scientist __________________ Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head!

Jun 28, 2002, 21:23	#2
samuraitora Regular Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Detroit MI Age: 35 Posts: 782	simply amazing __________________ ja mata samuraitora (^_-)/

Jun 29, 2002, 01:26	#3
larry_s Regular Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: localhost Posts: 51	Looking forward to the response of the whaling lobby... __________________ Dirty Larry

Jul 19, 2002, 19:28	#4
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	They'll probably just ignore it or say that we don't eat dolphins and small-toothed whales. __________________ crazy gonna crazy

Jul 22, 2002, 12:13	#5
Maciamo Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Jul 17, 2002 Location: Austrasia Posts: 6,647	Let's hope that whale and dolphin eaters get poisoned by their own stupidity. Anyway, if millions of Japanese people don't mind taking the risk of dying by eating fugu (here it's not just intoxication, but death within a few minutes), what will deter fanatic whale consumers, I wonder... __________________ Over 100 destinations in the Japan Sightseeing Guide + detailed Tokyo Guide and Kyoto Guide Eupedia : Your Guide to Europe in English Read the "Maciamo FAQ" "What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?", Winston Churchill.

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