At the "International Summit on Development and Disease" held at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yan Chonghuai, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Environment and Children's Health, stated that as water pollution caused by chemical products such as pesticides, fertilizers, and waste plastics has worsened in recent years, some toxins may accumulate in fish over the long term. As children's bodies are not yet fully developed and their immunity to viruses is lower, they should be particularly cautious when eating fish.
Yan Chonghuai said that fish are divided into three categories: herbivorous, omnivorous, and carnivorous. Herbivorous fish, such as catfish and grass carp, are at the bottom of the food chain, so their pollutant levels are relatively low, and they are also very nutritious and can be eaten more often. In contrast, carnivorous fish like sharks, ribbonfish, and tuna are at the top of the food chain and have high levels of pollutants in their bodies, so children should try to eat less of them to reduce the risk of toxin intake.
"I often encounter many cases of children developing food allergies or poisoning after consuming seafood. It's also common for the hospital to receive cases of mercury poisoning in children after they eat canned tuna," said Yan Chonghuai. He also added that it is very important to correctly choose which parts of the fish to eat. Although the belly area of the fish has no bones, a good texture, and is rich in fat, it is often the area with the highest concentration of pollutants, so children should consume it with caution.