Government Organizations

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Federal public health agency charged with providing science-based health information to help prevent illness from exposures to toxic substances including mercury.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This US federal agency monitors mercury in the environment and regulates industrial releases. Their site contains information on mercury in the environment and its health effects. The EPA issued a joint advisory with the FDA in 2004.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
The FDA is responsible for assuring commercial fish safety.Commercial fish mercury levels are available for some fish and shellfish at the FDA website.

Health Canada
“Health Canada is the Federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, while respecting individual choices and circumstances.” The website has information on mercury including Canada’s guidelines on fish consumption. 

New York City Department of Health and Mental HygieneThe NYC DHMH conducted a study of blood mercury levels in NYC residents and found that almost 50% of Asians and 25% of adults were estimated to be over the EPA’s recommended blood mercury level. Based on their findings, they produced guidelines for physicians. McKelvey et al. also conducted a follow-up study to measure contaminants of the fish that are popular among Asian residents. 

United Nations Environment Programme
Mercury is used today by some people for magico-religious purposes and can result in exposures at levels of concern.  Module 5 of this report from 2008 covers this topic including case studies.

United States Geological Survey (USGS)
“USGS provides information on mercury sources; mercury cycling in the atmosphere, land surface, lakes, streams and oceans; and bioaccumulation and toxicity of mercury. This information helps land and resource managers understand and reduce mercury hazards to people and wildlife. 

World Health Organization
“WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system.” Their advice from 2003 with respect to mercury can be found here.