How much mercury is in a can of tuna?

All canned white tuna is albacore. Its mercury levels are almost three times higher than the smaller skipjack, used in most canned light tuna. These recommendations are based on EPA guidance and estimates of mercury in the most popular canned tunas: Canned white, or albacore (0.32 parts per million of mercury). read more

Adults, including pregnant women, can safely eat this kind of tuna up to three times a month (women, 6-ounce portions; men, 8-ounce portions). Canned light – the safer choice (0.12 parts per million of mercury). Children under six can eat up to three 3-ounce portions per month. Older children and adults can safely eat it once a week. read more

Canned tuna is the second most popular seafood in the U.S. (shrimp is first) and is responsible for about 37 percent of the dietary mercury exposure. Canned albacore accounts for almost 20 percent of that. read more

*2.2 pound of fish is almost 6 can of tuna. Later on in the report, the CDC states that a person can chronically (for >365 days) ingest .0003mg/kg of mercury per day with "no observed adverse effect." For a 200 lb. man, this would be a little over 1 can of chunk light tuna each day. read more