Actor Warns Public of Danger in Eating Fish

It's not everyday that someone in Hollywood warns American audiences of potential health hazards. Entourage star Jeremy Piven has cautioned TV viewers to watch out for the presence of mercury in fish.

According to SF Gate.com, Piven was required to withdraw from the Broadway production, Speed-the-Plow, last month because the levels of mercury in his body were well beyond the normal and healthy range. He supposedly has a rare illness that resulted from this, which has not been identified.

The actor blamed the illness on eating too much sushi, and encourages the public to visit Bluevoice.org, which lists facts on the dangers posed by mercury levels in fish. According to the Web site, fish such as Alaskan halibut, swordfish, King mackerel, tilefish and especially tuna, have been shown to possess very high amounts of mercury. Other types such as salmon, sardines, cod, tilapia, and sole have lower levels.

Bluevoice.org warns readers that the effects of even low-level mercury poisoning include: memory loss, fatigue, depression, hair loss, headaches, tremors, and difficulty in concentrating.