August 26, 2004
Mercury: Here, There and Everywhere
BY: sandy
The New York Times had a huge story about mercury yesterday. I can hardly do better than the title — “E.P.A. Says Mercury Taints Fish Across U.S.“:
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 – The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday that fish in virtually all of the nation’s lakes and rivers were contaminated with mercury, a highly toxic metal that poses health risks for pregnant women and young children.
This warning was limited to fish caught recreationally in fresh water, but you can’t escape mercury by exchanging fish from your neighborhood lake for fish from your neighborhood grocery store; the highly toxic metal taints fish caught around the globe, not just in the U.S.
In fact, total EPA fish contamination advisories are up 10% from 2002. Nevertheless, the Agency continues to weaken regulations for major mercury sources. This latest warning should motivate the public to demand real reductions in mercury emissions — now.