African Woman and Child Feature Service

As nutritionists and medical doctors continue advising people to eat more fish for healthy living, environmental experts are now condemning this nutritious food, leaving people confused.

The experts are basing their caution on new findings that show increased mercury levels in fish that is finding its way into the lake from mines around the lake.

Mercury poisoning greatly affects brain development of babies born to women who eat large amounts of contaminated fish while pregnant. The researchers further note that the methyl mercury exposure increases the risk of cardiovascular and immune system ailments disease.

“The significant neurotoxin effects may also occur in adults and children with methyl mercury intake above reference levels,” says the Director of mercury policy project at the Zero Mercury Working Group Mr. Michael Bender.

In their study “Mercury in fish: An agent Global health concern” it was found that the internationally accepted exposure levels for methyl mercury are exceeded by wide margin in many countries.

Those at greater risk are populations whose per capita fish consumption is high, says the study which was launched during the 25^th United Nations Environmental Programme UNEP) General Council in Nairobi.

Cultures where fish eating marine mammals are part of the traditional diet were dangerously exposed since mercury in these animals was found in their diet.

According to other studies done in East Africa, there have been reports of a possible threat of mercury pollution that was detected in fish exports to Europe from Tanzania. The mercury level in the fish was 0.67mg/kg as opposed to the 0.5mg/kg that is accepted in Europe.

In April 2008, the Greek authorities rejected a shipment of Nile perch from Kagera, Rwanda because the mercury presence in the fish exceeded the required amount in the European Union

The coordinator of the Uganda Coalition for sustainable Development (UCSD) Mr. Richard Kimbowa says the source of this mercury is from artisanal goldmines around Lake Victoria, which finds it’s into thus fresh water lake.

Studies done around Lake Victoria reveals that illegal miners use mercury in separating gold from the soil oblivious of the dangers associated with hazardous chemical.

“The problem is, there is lack of information about the extent of the problem as well as doubts about lack of capacity to monitor it by government authorities,” says Kimbowa.

In Kenya, the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) also blame the gold mines around the lakes as the main source of mercury pollution.

PSR observes that the Nile perch, the favoured fish species from the lake for local consumption and export may be having the highest concentration of mercury even though other small fish varieties are equally affected.

PSR calls for regular data collection on the matter from the East African countries, which share the lake waters.

PSR and other interested parties are now calling for coordinated international response to counter the threats of mercury pollution.