ABSTRACT
Ocean fi sh are healthy sources of low-fat protein and tend to be rich in essential omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), selenium (Se), vitamins A and D, iodine, and other nutrients (U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] 2009, Lund 2013). Since these nutrients are essential for normal physiology and are important for optimal fetal neurodevelopment and maternal health, increased ocean fi sh intake during pregnancy is notably benefi cial. However, these benefi ts can be diminished by potentially deleterious coexposures to methylmercury (MeHg) which accumulates at high levels in species that occupy the upper tiers of the marine food web. Prior studies of highly exposed sentinel populations in New Zealand and the Faroe Islands reported that children with the highest blood MeHg contents were adversely affected (Crump et al. 1998; Grandjean et al. 1997). More recent studies are fi nding that children are benefi tted instead of harmed by maternal consumption of ocean fi sh (Daniels et al.
