While the high levels of toxic chemicals found in Maine residents reflect the great difficulty of avoiding toxins in today's society ("Study in Maine finds modern living carries toxic price," June 12), measures can be taken to help people reduce their intake, especially in the case of mercury.

Mercury is the only chemical for which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued fish consumption advice. By following this advice, consumers can limit their intake of mercury, and probably a lot of other chemicals at the same time. FDA recommends that women of child-bearing age and kids not eat king mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish, and that they limit albacore tuna and tuna steaks to six ounces or less. However, many fish like wild salmon, tilapia and flounder are safe to eat in limited quantities.

While the information about chemicals may be available, this critical mercury information is not provided where consumers need it most: the grocery store. Grocery stores can easily solve this problem by posting at their seafood counters simple signs with the FDA's advice on which fish to eat. Shaw's and Wild Oats have made the posting of signs a national policy, but IGA and others have yet to follow. Posting signs is a great way to raise public awareness of the problem, and it will reverberate in substantial public health benefits in years to come.

Jackie Savitz

Director, Campaign to Stop Seafood Contamination, Oceana

Washington, D.C.