Survey Finds Mercury in Fish in West

[lovuian]

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Scientists looking for fish tainted by mercury found them in every fish and every river they sampled across the West, suggesting that industrial pollution generated around the world is likely responsible for at least some of it.

The survey of 2,707 fish randomly collected from 626 rivers in 12 states represents the biggest regional sampling yet of mercury in fish in the West, said Spencer A. Peterson, senior research ecologist EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory in Corvallis.

The findings by scientists from the EPA and Oregon State University were reported in this month's issue of the journal Environmental Science & Technology and came out of an EPA survey of various environmental factors in rivers conducted between 2000 and 2004.

Though the survey found some fish with elevated mercury levels, suggesting a local source such as an old mercury mine, most levels were low, in line with canned tuna found in grocery stores, said Alan T. Herlihy, associate research professor in the OSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

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This is so sad incredible poluted
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12086&ref=rss

[motocicleta]

1. I cannot explain how sad this makes me.

I used to think maybe we could fix the problems I saw as a youngster before I got too old. Now I guess maybe I have a little hope left for my grandchildren. Or at least their grandchildren. But not much else in the hope department. Even on DU most folks would rather have political squabbles than consider the damage we have done to our biosphere.

;(

[lovuian]

2. I wonder if this has to do with the EPA destroying their library

and files... I'm sorry the OS officials belief that Mercury is falling from the skies is very lame ...

[july302001]

3. thx 2 coal

Thanks to that wonderful ...(NOT!) coal industry!!!!

edit - fixed the "not"

[valerief]

4. Yeah, if they cut all us humans open, they'd find we're loaded with it, too.

But I still miss my tuna fish sandwiches.