State Officials Warn Against Eating Certain Fish

AUSTIN (AP) - State health officials have raised mercury concerns in advising some people not to eat or to limit consumption of certain fish caught off the Texas coast.

The Department of State Health Services issued the advisory Tuesday. Experts say too much mercury can harm the central nervous system.

Some fish caught in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico had mercury at concentrations that exceed Texas health guidelines. The advisory involves shark, blackfin tuna, blue marlin, little tunny, crevalle jack, king mackerel, swordfish and wahoo.

DSHS says women of childbearing age and youngsters under age 12 shouldn't eat those fish. The advisory recommends older women and men limit consumption of such fish to no more than one or two meals monthly.

Mercury occurs naturally but can also be a byproduct of human activity.

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