West Virginia Issues Mercury Advisory For All Streams And Rivers

[hatrack]

"West Virginians are warned to limit their consumption of fish in a mercury advisory, which applies to all of the state's waters from its clearest mountain streams to industrial waterways.

Last week's mercury advisory, the state's first, was based on a two-year study by West Virginia University that examined fish samples from 56 sites across the state. The study was conducted for the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Division of Natural Resources and the Bureau for Public Health. These three agencies are responsible for the annual fish-consumption advisories.
The mercury advisories warn that children and pregnant or nursing women should restrict their consumption. For others, consumption limits are based on the type and size of fish. Federal mercury advisories have been in place for years, warning people in those high-risk groups to limit consumption of commercially-caught fish. This is the first to apply to the state's sport fish.

EDIT

West Virginia is the nation's second largest coal producer and the state has more than a dozen coal-fired power plants. "It confirms that mercury contamination appears to be widespread from atmospheric deposition,'' said Pat Campbell with the DEP. Mercury was found in fish samples ranging from bottom-feeding catfish to predator fish such as largemouth bass and walleye. Campbell said the state would like to eventually expand the study to look at other popular fish such as crappie and bluegill.

EDIT

West Virginia DNR Fish Biologist Scott Morrison, said many infer an unrealistic idea about the health risks of eating fish from the advisories and most people's fish consumption already is well below the what the guidelines recommend. "You can't give a consumption advisory without people thinking it is terrible and that the fish aren't safe. We have an advisory to eat one meal per week. Well, who eats 52 meals of fish a year? I don't think there's many people who do," Morrison said."

EDIT

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/sports/story/1219202004_spt08_fish.asp

[rpannier]

1. Another Environmental Catastrophe Brought to you by...

George W. Bush Jr

[snippy]

5. Just one more Bush "catastrophic success." n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Hah!! Mercury is only the worst known neurotoxin... the Romans simply

used lead pipes to wipe their collective minds. Things aren't looking too good for the New American Century. arf arf....

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. EPA on Mercury levels, not pretty.....

http://www.epa.gov/ost/fish/

[snippy]

4. This is what happens when people vote republican.

More people need to understand the consequences of their votes.

[Ian David]

6. Reducing Mercury Levels is a Democrat Liberal Plot!!

Let's send snail-mail letters directly to the Republican voters of West Virginia.

Send letters to the editors of their newspapers.

Fuck them.

Let them eat Mercury.

[snippy]

7. I have heard that democrats want to ban the Bible in West Virginia.

Has the Bush administration published the republican RDA for mercury yet?

[NNadir]

8. Reducing Mercury levels would help Democrats. Mercury is a neurotoxin

and thus effects brain processes. It is conceivable - and I'm more than a little serious here - that Republicanism and Mercury toxicity are closely tied together.

I cannot imagine how people can think straight and be Republicans.

[Ian David]

9. My email to Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

Please enjoy as much of the local West Virginian shellfish and other
aquatic bounty as you possibly can.

Your president has voted to increase the amounts of Lead and Mercury
released into the environment. And now, West Virginia is feeling the
consequences.

Good.

He's YOUR president, YOU eat his Mercury.