A new study from Washington State found that mercury levels in canned albacore tuna are three times greater than in chunk or light tuna. Canned light tuna is usually labeled "chunk light" or "solid light." While cans of "white" tuna contain only albacore, light tuna can include a mix of several types of the fish. Albacore tuna contained an average of 215 parts per billion (ppb) of mercury, compared with an average of 57ppb in light tuna. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates canned tuna, takes action when mercury levels in the edible parts of fish reach 1 part per million.
Seattle PI, January 31, 2004