HIGH MERCURY COUNT: How It Happens, Mercury Poisoning Symptoms And More

As Jeremy Piven leaves Broadway due to his high mercury count, people are wondering just what exactly that means.

It means you've been poisoned. Or you've poisoned yourself.

According to the FDA, it's not too hard to avoid a high mercury count:

FDA scientists responsible for seafood safety are also concerned about the safety of the eating these types of fish, but they agree that the fish are safe, provided they are eaten infrequently (no more than once a week) as part of a balanced diet.

Well, in Piven's case, the high mercury count could have come from frequently eating sushi twice a day:

Colker tells ET that Jeremy has been an avid sushi eater for many years, regularly eating sushi twice in one day. He notes that Jeremy has also taken certain Chinese herbs, and that, in combination with the frequent sushi consumption, could have led to these elevated mercury levels.

HIGH MERCURY LEVEL SYMPTOMS

While the high mercury count of seafood is well-known, not everybody knows what to look for. Thanks to the EPA, here are some mercury poisoning symptoms:

* Impairment of the peripheral vision

* Disturbances in sensations ("pins and needles" feelings, numbness) usually in the hands feet and sometimes around the mouth
* Lack of coordination of movements, such as writing
* Impairment of speech, hearing, walking;
* Muscle weakness
* Skin rashes
* Mood swing
* Memory loss
* Mental disturbance

WHAT HAPPENS?

Story continues below

advertisement

Organic mercury is really dangerous. Kind of creepy dangerous, actually. Here's what happens when you consume mercury:

The methylmercury in fish passes readily from the human gut to the bloodstream and on into all organs and tissues. It seems to act most powerfully on the brain because the compound is strongly attracted to fatty molecules called lipids, and the brain has the highest lipid content of any organ. Methylmercury crosses the protective blood-brain barrier by binding with an essential amino acid that has dedicated carrier proteins for shunting it into brain cells. Once inside brain cells, some of it gets converted to an inorganic form that sticks to and disables many structural proteins and enzymes essential to cell function. "It can destroy the biological function of any protein it binds to," says Boyd Haley, a biochemist at the University of Kentucky.

MERCURY FROM NATURE AND FROM MAN

High mercury levels don't just come from fish, either -- though that's how they're typically ingested by humans.

Like all environmental toxins, mercury can be found in great variety of locations and amounts. Some oceans are lined with ores that contain natural mercury deposits. The Mediterranean Sea, for example, contains cinnabar (mercury sulfide) deposits that can leech into the water and find their way into Mediterranean fish. Tuna from the Mediterranean tends to be higher in mercury than tuna from the Atlantic or the Pacific for this reason.

Human activities, however, can be an equally significant source of mercury contamination. Over 100 tons of mercury are released annually into the air by U.S. industries - primarily coal-fired power plants, municipal waste combustion facilities, and incinerators that handle medical waste. Mercury also finds it way into landfills across the country in the form of fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats, and electrical components (including components still used in automobiles).

EARLIER:

Jeremy Piven is evidently leaving his Broadway show due to a high mercury count:

But after missing Tuesday night's performance and a Wednesday matinee, Piven took his doctors' advice that he should end his run immediately because of a high mercury count, the paper quoted a spokeswoman for the actor as saying.

MORE RESOURCES:

::Avoid A High Mercury Count With The EPA's Fish Advisories

Comments

[RaisingAwareness]

Seeing my little dog in excruciating pain and nearly die because of a mercury-laden vaccine, I know first-hand that mercury is no joking matter. I can't believe any organization dares to call it safe.

[nanabanana1111]

I wasn't aware until recently that CFL's contain mercury. Promoters minimize the risk, but personally I think you must be very careful of where you place these bulbs in a home with small children. When broken, they break into a zillion tiny shards, and if you have crawlers and toddlers putting things in their mouths all the time... well I really think it is a risk, as getting every microscopic piece is impossible, and tiny ones are too sensitive to heavy metals to risk it. I do not know the type of mercury in these bulbs. But keep them only in totally covered lights and treat and dispose of as a toxic item. I hope someone invents a no mercury florescent bulb.

[baldfatguy]

take EDTA capsules. it will latch onto the mercury and other heavy metals and pass them out immediately in your weewee. look up oral chelation.

[plwood01]

People have used the excuse of psychosomatic illness for decades to keep from taking care of ex military all the way up to and including chronic fatigue syndrome. I expect my government to use state of the art scientific processes to analyze and correct problems that stem from decades long refusal to spend money on the basic survival of our species instead of bridges to nowhere and providing bonuses for ineffective CEOs who have run their companies into the ground and expect a pardon. One of our national security dangers is biochemical warfare that is introduced through our water or food supplies. We are lucky that we have not experienced a full blown epidemic of food borne viruses or poisons that kill our children or our older people and we have nothing in our arsenal of weapons to address an epidemic of monstrous proportions. Outbreak is one of my favorite movies and I shudder to think that we are about at the precipice for having a similar situation to deal with soon in this country while the FDA are watching Pornos and doing business not related to their jobs like the SEC. We must demand that FDA does its jobs, expands on it, and continues to keep the public informed.

[plwood01]

It is extremely frightening, madding, expensive and dangerous, the way that the FDA has been allowed to become so lax in regard to our food safety in this country. The water is so toxic with all the medications in it, that I have a hard time with unusual illnesses, rashes, etc., based on having allergies that are driving me wild. I used to take shots for them but they got so bad, that the doctor stopped giving them to me and told me to move to another state. I did that, and after being in Georgia for the last 8 years, the allergies are again becoming a problem. After hearing about how polluted our water sources are, I understand a lot better about why I am sick most of the time. Now, there is nothing I can do about the water system in a drought state, so it appears that my only hope is to demand that my government clean up the water resources around the country that are known to be killing us because of the pharmaceutical content. I used to drink bottled water until it became known that they use the same water we get from the tap. The FDA needs to be overhauled along with everything else, but because they are supposed to monitor our food it should take precedence.

[Emily623]

I agree!! The FDA has become a joke--especially over the past 8 years. They are useless. I hope Obama cleans house there and at the CDC, EPA, ADA, and USDA, among others. All the agencies that were put in place to protect us from unscrupulous businesses have failed miserably. They all need to be cleaned out and revamped.

On the subject of water, I would not drink the tap water in Georgia (Atlanta) if I were you...the amount of chlorine they put in it is unbelievable. I turn on the tap and the smell of chlorine is overpowering. I get my drinking water from the reverse osmosis/carbon-filtered water machine at the organic grocery store. It's only 27 cents per gallon refill.

I know where you're coming from with the allergies; mine seem to get worse every year. I hope your allergies improve and you have better health in the new year.

[SeaBlood]

Lately, I've been eating less of the large fish species that contain significant levels of mercury, namely tuna and salmon. Instead, I eat more sardines, which are much smaller and, thus, absorb a great deal less mercury. Sardines have all the healthful Omega-3 lipids of salmon and tuna, yet almost no mercury. True, they are a little fishier tasting, but, on toast, with some lettuce and dressing, they make a delicious sandwich.

[Luca]

About the only benefit will be that on a hot day he'll be an inch taller.

[eztempo]

Isn't mercury poisoning where the saying "mad as a hatter" came from ... personified in the Mad Hatter of "Alice in Wonderland"? I believe the old-timey hat-makers injested a lot of mercury from chewing felt and went gradually crazy from the poisoning. (Could explain Piven's inspired, manic performance as Ari Gold in "Entourage".)

[bujeeboo]

Yep, you are right.

[UsofA]

Actually, the mercury occurred in the vapors from a treatment of the felt used in making hats. Poorly ventilated hat workshops caused the hatters to inhale, not chew, mercury laden fumes that over time caused severe lead poisoning.

[paulajewels]

Hi,
I to have mercury poisoning it has been hell. I also have high levels of lead and cadium. i worked at a dental office for 10 years. I'm not getting any help. My question is about your comment

"mercury laden fumes that over time caused severe lead poisoning"

please explain that to me because I can't seem to get anyone to listen to me. Thank you.

[Emily623]

I hope Jeremy Piven gets the chelation he needs and gets healthy soon. I had mercury poisoning, very severe, caused by my fillings. I had every one of the symptoms listed in the article--and many more. I was fortunate to have a leading biological dentist nearby that removed my 10 amalgam fillings safely, without exposing me to any more mercury. Since then, I've gotten rid of (I think) all the mercury that was in my body, but there's still methyl mercury that passed through the blood-brain barrier and continues to affect brain function. Maybe once Piven gets well, he can bring some media attention to the dangers of mercury and get something done about it.

[jimdolbow]

How did you get rid of the mercury that was in your body? A friend of mine still has some mercury in her after having removed all of her mercury fillings. She is desperate so any wisdom you or anyone else can provide is most appreciated. thanks

[Mavin1620]

Mercury poisoning is very real. It kills people all the time. Dropping out of a play is very hard for most actors (I live in a theatre town), because it adversely affects them getting the next job.

[LeeCalif]

Interesting. Here is a health case and HuffPo is running an ad that is on this page. (it changes, fades in and out).

The ad is funded by corporations to prevent consumers like you & me from protecting ourselves
from inferior & unsafe products. Holding a business responsible for the product it sells to us.

When you hear - tort reform - WATCH OUT. They don't want you to have rights to expect safety.

Good luck, Jeremy Piven. Hope you get well, man.

[Mavin1620]

I don't see the ad to which you refer. Advertising is necessary, however I only read the static ads. If they jump out into what I am reading, I do make a mental note to avoid those companies.

[serendipman]

Want to bet his symptoms are psychosomatic - the mercury count is a red herring (no pun intended)

[hawkseye]

I have suffered for many years from mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium poisoning. After four years of chelation treatments, I am finally recovering.
In my physicians opinion, the only safe fish is sardines.

[bujeeboo]

I would add salmon to the list. Unfortunately, I don't care for salmon.

Also, I heard that blue fin (maguro sushi) is absolute poison, whereas hamachi is safer. Even still, I eat it once a MONTH and would not advise pregnant women to eat ANY fish.

[Promise]

Another known source of mercury poisoning is from mercury amalgam dental fillings. Many people have them replaced and have experienced better health. I know of an older woman who had arthritis for many years and had all of her teeth pulled (for other reasons). Afterward, her arthritis completely cleared up and she attributed it to the lack of mercury fillings.

[hawkseye]

You are correct on all points, in my opinion.

[MarkRubin]

actually, the process of removal of those fillings is now thought to cause a greater release of mercury and thus pose greater health risks in most cases

[kirkland]

Actually, this is incorrect. Biological Dentists are quite familiar wth safe removal ( for both patient and themselves) of TOXIC AMALGAM. ( which dentists have moved away from using- almost completely- precisely because they are a neurotoxin - at least in major markets ) I had Merc Tox . My lips felt like they were on fire and I had other neuro issues. A very smart MD DX'd me , chelated me , I had ALL amalgam removed from my mouth and feel fantastic.
I personally recommend that all adults take Chlorella ( a specific algae) on a daily basis. It will help reduce your body burden of Merc.

[Smirk]

My brother gave up sushi made with tuna for the same reason. Hope Piven recovers fully.