Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Mercury-Tainted Fish Found Widely in US Streams
LOS ANGELES - Scientists have detected mercury contamination in every one of hundreds of fish sampled from 291 freshwater streams, according to a U.S. government study released on Wednesday.
Scientists have detected mercury contamination in every one of hundreds of fish sampled from 291 freshwater streams, according to a U.S. government study released on Wednesday. More than a quarter of those fish contained concentrations of mercury exceeding levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency for the protection of people who eat average amounts of fish, the U.S. Geological Survey report said.
More than two-thirds exceeded the EPA-set level of concern for fish-eating mammals.
"This study shows just how widespread mercury pollution has become in our air, watersheds, and many of our fish in freshwater streams," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a statement. The USGS is part of the Interior Department.
The neurotoxin enters the environment chiefly as an air pollutant spewed into the atmosphere by industrial emissions, then falls back to the surface in precipitation and particulate matter carried over long distances.
The main source of atmospheric mercury, according to the EPA, is coal-fired power plants.
Conducted from 1998 through 2005, the USGS study is the first comprehensive survey of mercury contamination in the water, sediments and fish of rivers and creeks throughout the United States.
Most previous studies have focused on lakes, reservoirs and wetlands. Mercury contamination in ocean species such as tuna has also received widespread attention.
'BLACKWATER STREAMS'
Some of the highest levels of mercury in the latest study were found in the coastal "blackwater" streams of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana -- relatively undeveloped areas marked by abundant pine forests and wooded wetlands.
USGS hydrologist Barbara Scudder said those characteristics somehow enhance the conversion of mercury from its inorganic form in the atmosphere to a more toxic organic form, methylmercury, which accounts for at least 95 percent of the mercury found in fish.
"Just as there are members of the human population, such as children and developing babies, that are sensitive to the mercury that they get, there are some ecosystems that are also more susceptible to producing methylmercury," she said.
High concentrations also were found in some streams in the West fed by areas where mining had taken place, Scudder said.
As with many pollutants, mercury concentrates as it moves up the food chain, from algae, to insects to small fish and larger predators. The main source of mercury poisoning in humans is from eating fish and shellfish.
Scudder said researchers typically sampled about five fish from each of the 291 streams surveyed. They focused on bigger species such as largemouth bass because they are at the top of the in-stream food chain.
She suggested that people concerned about mercury contamination in stream-caught fish should eat more of the smaller pan species, such as perch, bluegill or crappie.
The EPA said this year that it intends to issue new rules under the Clean Air Act to control air emissions of mercury from coal-fired power plants.
Editing by Xavier Bria
15 Comments so far
Show AllA study recently came out showing that mercury can be found in high fructose corn syrup (every processed food you eat) http://ehjournal.net/content/8/1/2
We really can't afford more brain damaged people walking around and contributing to Fox News.
"No one could have imagined that these industrial emissions could fly mercury into buildings."
Condi Rice, testifying at the Congressional "Apocalypse Commission" hearings.
Question. When a significant majority of the Population are as "Mad as hatters" due to mercury pollution , how do we define madness and the NORMAL people?
Is madness then the new sanity?
One need merely to look at declining Rome and the effect that lead lined water pipes and utensils had on the sanity of Romans.
Caligula anyone!?
Some states publish a pamphlet through their departments of fish and game that list streams from which it is unhealthy to eat fish. The last one I saw was from Michigan several years ago. There were no safe streams listed as I recall. I doubt there are any in the country, maybe in the world. Polar bears carry large concentrations of pollutants in their fat. So do we.
We, as a species, have maybe five or six years to turn this around. After that, lean way over and kiss your ass goodbye.
MichaelC
I always wondered where my memory went!
This article stated that the source of mercury only "incustrial emissions", while failing to note that those emissions are mostly from the burning of coal.
Very convienient.
Just here...."The EPA said this year that it intends to issue new rules under the Clean Air Act to control air emissions of mercury from coal-fired power plants."
But it's not obvious.
This kind of sarcasm should be considered assault. And like assault it is hilarious to watch.
You should try reading the article before claiming it doesn't say something.
Quote: "The main source of atmospheric mercury, according to the EPA, is coal-fired power plants."
Coal-fired power plants burn coal. Right? Right. And saying that the "main source" is this is saying that it's mostly due to this.
The convenience you speak of evidently is found only in your imagination.
And now that we have polluted ourselves down the road to extinction...now jump up and shout how Obama is a socialist nazi. ???
And tell the government to keep their socialist hands off our Medicare. ???
And scream as loud as we can how it's ok for US to torture and murder, because WE are the good guys! ???
Mercury in the water, in the fish we eat, caused by burning fossil fuel....that's just a liberal myth like evolution and global warming. ????
And yes, there are those who would read what I just wrote and scream.....YEAH!!! THAT'S RIGHT!!
18% of Americans believe the sun revolves around the earth. And over 70% of Americans believe there is an omniscient being who watches over us.
Let's hope their "god" takes care of them because the rest of life on this planet is screwed.
I think the majority of people don't know how bad it is, so they think all those things you mentioned are just part of getting this country back to the way it "should" be.
The "omniscient being who watches over us" is not an invalid belief, however it can be; it only depends on what people understand by "watches over us". People who think that it means that the "omniscient being" will intervene to save us from harm even if we believe in Him or Her are mistaken; although He or She might make an occasional exception for some particular reason(s), but only occasional and for special purposes. He or She "watched over" Jesus of Nazareth being crucified and clearly didn't do anything to prevent this from happening.
People who understand "watches over us" as meaning that He or She sees us, knows of our whereabouts, sufferings, ... is attentive to the problems in our world, but isn't an interventionist, now these people have a saner and more realistic understanding.
The "trick" is to avoid being an absolutist in fanatical and irrational ways. The "omniscient being" may absolutely be omniscient and always know what's on our minds, what's eating away at us, who's committing injustices against us, or the injustices we commit against others, and our wrongs against the natural environment; but it's absolutely foolish to think that He or She will always or even often come to our rescue.
He or She does not micro-control us or any other aspect of our world and anyone who thinks He or She does is absolutely foolish, full of nonsense.
Try not to stereotype, if you don't want to be stereotyped, and that type would not be particularly favourable, if it was assigned to you, and to many others, who think in [narrow] and superficial ways.
Is an all knowing, all powerful being that does nothing to prevent suffering good or evil?
Definitely be very, very, super careful about mercury contamination. Ever hear or read or otherwise learn about the Minamata disease? It was discovered in Minamata, Japan, but it's also very badly affected First Nations, Canadian Indians in one or two parts of Ontario, or one area there and another area in a neighbouring province going westward.
There are some videos at Youtube showing the effects of this disease on some mammals and the effects are VERY debilitating and, I think to recall, eventually fatal.
From what I have learned, the body cannot eliminate mercurcy. It bioaccumulates and if this happens too much, then the experience will not be welcome; that's for sure.