Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: The Dangers of Eating Tilapia

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CARACAS, Dec 19 2005 (IPS) - Consumption of tilapia fish from the Valencia Lake area, some 100 km west of Caracas, can be dangerous, due to the high concentration of mercury in its meat, which is nearly four times the limit of 1.6 milligrams per kilo allowed under the standards of the World Health Organization. Abic Valderrama, of the University Institute of Technology in Valencia, the regional capital, told Tierramérica that “if the riverside population continues to consume tilapia, they will suffer severe damage to the nervous system, which in some cases could lead to death.”

Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is originally from Africa. The effects of the heavy metal mercury on the fish itself is cumulative and not degenerative.

Although officials are still investigating the source of mercury contamination, it is believed to come from industrial waste.

Valencia Lake is Venezuela's second largest, covering 238 square kilometers.