Consumption Warnings Out For Fish In 1/3 Of America's Lakes, 1/4 Of Rivers

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON — One of every three lakes in the United States and nearly one-quarter of the nation's rivers contain enough pollution that people should limit or avoid eating fish caught there.

Every state but Alaska and Wyoming issued fish advisories covering some and occasionally all of their lakes or rivers in 2003, according to a national databased maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency and updated every year. Though the number of advisories rose to 3,094, up from 2,814 in 2002, according to figures released Tuesday, EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt said the increase was due to more monitoring, not more pollution.

Nearly all the advisories involve contaminants such as mercury, dioxins, PCBs, pesticides, and heavy metals, including arsenic, copper, and lead. Currently they cover 35 percent of the nation's lake acreage and 24 percent of river miles.

Leavitt said mercury pollution from industry is decreasing, though he cited figures only as recent as five years ago. Primary sources of mercury pollution include coal-burning power plants, the burning of hazardous and medical waste, and production of chlorine. It also occurs naturally in the environment."

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-08-25/s_26693.asp

[CarolynEC]

1. And yet, Bush is easing limits on mercury emissions...

... the number-one pollutant that makes it too dangerous to eat fish pulled from our nation's lakes and streams.

This precious resource that has sustained and nourished families throughout history -- made off-limits so industry can line its pockets a bit more.

Memo to Bush: So long, and thanks but no thanks for all the fish.

[NNadir]

2. Even the CNN propagandists are picking this one up.

"The latest figures troubled frequent critics of the Bush administration, including environmentalist groups such as the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation and Natural Resources Defense Council. They want stricter limits imposed on mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Earlier this month an environmental advocacy coalition released a report citing EPA figures to claim that 76 percent of fish samples collected from 260 bodies of water exceeded the agency's mercury exposure limits for children under 3.

"Sadly, America's women and children are paying for the administration's procrastination," said Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, which noted that state advisories now cover 13 million acres of lakes and three-quarter million miles of rivers."

Even from the CNN propagandists:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/08/25/bc.fish.pollution.ap/index.html

[MercutioATC]

3. "Fish is good for you...oh, don't eat it more than twice a month."

...gotta love it...

:)

[phantom power]

4. Add it up, and we really *are* living the future they warned us about

We have to limit the number of fish we eat, for fear of poisoning. We regularly close beeches and rivers for swimming, due to bacterial counts. We all drink bottled, or filtered water, and we pay $1.00 for 12 oz (at least, if we get it from a vending machine). Our cities have daily "air quality" warnings and UV warnings, telling people to stay indoors.