Health Highlights: Jan. 26, 2008

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

U.S. Study Finds High Mercury Levels in Fresh Tuna

Concentrations of mercury in store-bought tuna, as well as tuna sold in sushi restaurants, are almost double the level recommended as unsafe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a new national survey.

Oceana, a Washington D.C.-based ocean conservation group, released the results of the nationwide survey earlier this week. The survey involved independent laboratory testing of 94 samples of fish and sushi bought at grocery stores and sushi restaurants in 26 American cities. The fish tested included tuna (steaks and sushi), swordfish, tilapia and sushi mackerel.

Mercury concentrations in tuna steaks purchased from grocery stores averaged 0.68 parts per million (ppm) nearly double the FDA''s estimate of 0.38 ppm for fresh or frozen tuna, Oceana said. Mercury levels in tuna sushi were even higher, at 0.86 ppm on average.

Oceana notes that in 2004, the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally advised women of childbearing years to limit consumption of canned albacore tuna and tuna steaks to 6 ounces per week or less, due to mercury''s effects on the developing fetus.

"We were shocked that mercury levels in tuna were as high as those in many of the fish on FDA''s ''do not eat'' list," Jacqueline Savitz, Oceana''s senior campaign director, said in a statement.

Her group believes the FDA should now include fresh tuna on its ''Do Not Eat'' list. Oceana is also urging that major grocery chains better inform consumers of the risk, including posting information where fish is sold.

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FDA Repeats Notice of Recalled Heparin and Saline Flushes

Pre-filled syringes containing either the anti-clotting agent heparin or normal saline solution may be contaminated with a dangerous bacterium and are being recalled by the manufacturer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration repeated Friday.

Both types of pre-filled syringe are manufactured by North Carolina-based AM2 PAT Inc. The products were distributed nationwide under two brand names, Sierra Pre-Filled Inc. and B. Braun.

The company voluntarily recalled these products on Jan. 18 after confirming contamination with Serratia marcescens bacteria. Infections with Serratia marcescens are capable of causing life-threatening illness or death, the FDA said.

Consumers or facilities who have any of the recalled products should stop using them immediately and return them to the distributor or place of purchase, the agency said.

The following products and codes are affected: