Scientists with the US Geological survey released a study this week finding that mercury contamination in America’s streams is worse than they thought. Researchers tested fish from 291 streams across the country and detected mercury contamination in every fish sampled. About a quarter of these fish were found to contain mercury at levels exceeding federal safety standards for people who consume average amounts of fish. More than two-thirds of the fish exceeded the U.S. EPA level of concern for fish-eating mammals. Some of the highest levels of mercury in fish were found in the tea-colored or “blackwater” streams in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana — those areas associated with relatively undeveloped forested watersheds containing abundant wetlands compared to the rest of the country. The study finds that coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States — but 59 of the streams also were potentially affected by gold and mercury mining. All 50 states have mercury monitoring programs, and 48 states issued fish-consumption advisories for mercury in 2006. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said “This science sends a clear message that our country must continue to confront pollution, restore our nation’s waterways, and protect the public from potential health dangers.”
For a podcast regarding THIS WEEK’S announcement, click here.
To see the full study click here
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