October 17, 2005
Why I’m Speaking Out About Seafood Contamination
BY: Dick Russell
There are so many problems facing the environment today, it’s easy for people to get overwhelmed and lose hope. But the key to accomplishing anything is focus, and I’ve decided to focus on seafood contamination. Why? Because it hits so close to home for so many of us.
My name is Amber Valletta, and I’m working with Oceana to get the word out about this problem plaguing our seafood supply. As an actress, I hope to raise awareness about this issue by getting supermarkets to post signs warning consumers about contaminated fish. After all, we all have a right to know what’s really on our dinner plate.
I first became concerned about seafood contamination when a doctor told a close friend of mine to avoid getting pregnant because of the dangerous amount of mercury in her blood. Apparently the mercury found its way into her system through seafood.
Mercury attacks the nervous system and the brain, affecting sensory and motor activities, behavior, memory and learning. Pregnant women pass it on to the fetus, where it is especially harmful due to the sensitivity and rapid development of babies.
Not only is it paramount to educate people about the presence of mercury in seafood, but we also have to fight to stop mercury pollution at its source. Studies show that some of the biggest producers of mercury pollution are chlorine factories that still use 19th-century technology. Safer technologies exist and these companies know it.
As an actress, activist, and mother of a young child, I hope that in doing my part, I can help protect my family and yours from this critical environmental threat. I look forward to writing again soon!