§ 23-72-1 Legislative findings. – The general assembly finds and declares:
(1) Mercury from trash incinerators, coal fired power plants,municipal solid waste, hazardous waste sites, and other human made sources hasbeen identified in virtually every body of water in New England, as well as theoceans.
(2) Nearly all fish contain at least trace amounts of methylmercury, which is formed by the action of bacteria on elemental mercury.
(3) Many types of freshwater fish caught in Rhode Island andsome saltwater fish sold in Rhode Island may be contaminated with mercury, atoxic element that causes neurological damage.
(4) According to the US Food and Drug Administration, certainspecies of tuna, shark and swordfish can have mercury levels over 1.0 parts permillion, the FDA limit for human consumption.
(5) The FDA advises pregnant women of childbearing age tolimit their consumption of shark and swordfish to no more than once a month.Other persons are advised to limit their consumption of shark and swordfish tono more than seven (7) ounces per week.
(6) However, this health advisory information, which isnecessary to protect public health, is not widely known nor widely disseminatedby the state or federal government, potentially threatening many Rhode Islandresidents who may unknowingly ingest harmful amounts of mercury from fish.
§ 23-72-1 Legislative findings. – The general assembly finds and declares:
(1) Mercury from trash incinerators, coal fired power plants,municipal solid waste, hazardous waste sites, and other human made sources hasbeen identified in virtually every body of water in New England, as well as theoceans.
(2) Nearly all fish contain at least trace amounts of methylmercury, which is formed by the action of bacteria on elemental mercury.
(3) Many types of freshwater fish caught in Rhode Island andsome saltwater fish sold in Rhode Island may be contaminated with mercury, atoxic element that causes neurological damage.
(4) According to the US Food and Drug Administration, certainspecies of tuna, shark and swordfish can have mercury levels over 1.0 parts permillion, the FDA limit for human consumption.
(5) The FDA advises pregnant women of childbearing age tolimit their consumption of shark and swordfish to no more than once a month.Other persons are advised to limit their consumption of shark and swordfish tono more than seven (7) ounces per week.
(6) However, this health advisory information, which isnecessary to protect public health, is not widely known nor widely disseminatedby the state or federal government, potentially threatening many Rhode Islandresidents who may unknowingly ingest harmful amounts of mercury from fish.
§ 23-72-1 Legislative findings. – The general assembly finds and declares:
(1) Mercury from trash incinerators, coal fired power plants,municipal solid waste, hazardous waste sites, and other human made sources hasbeen identified in virtually every body of water in New England, as well as theoceans.
(2) Nearly all fish contain at least trace amounts of methylmercury, which is formed by the action of bacteria on elemental mercury.
(3) Many types of freshwater fish caught in Rhode Island andsome saltwater fish sold in Rhode Island may be contaminated with mercury, atoxic element that causes neurological damage.
(4) According to the US Food and Drug Administration, certainspecies of tuna, shark and swordfish can have mercury levels over 1.0 parts permillion, the FDA limit for human consumption.
(5) The FDA advises pregnant women of childbearing age tolimit their consumption of shark and swordfish to no more than once a month.Other persons are advised to limit their consumption of shark and swordfish tono more than seven (7) ounces per week.
(6) However, this health advisory information, which isnecessary to protect public health, is not widely known nor widely disseminatedby the state or federal government, potentially threatening many Rhode Islandresidents who may unknowingly ingest harmful amounts of mercury from fish.
