Mercury Content In Fish Approaches 4X "Safe" Limit In Virginia Wetlands

[hatrack]

The more Virginia scientists look for mercury in swampy eastern waters, the more they find. Mercury is a powerfully toxic metal that is most dangerous to pregnant women and young children. After reviewing the latest tests showing mercury levels in fish, the state Department of Health issued expanded advisories last week warning people to avoid or limit eating fish from several waterways.

The waters include wild, tree-lined Dragon Run about 50 miles east of Richmond, long considered one of Virginia's most pristine streams. The other tainted waters include the scenic Blackwater River in southeastern Virginia and remote Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk and Chesapeake.

Waters in these general areas were covered by previous health advisories. But the new advisories warn of problems in more miles of water and, in the Blackwater, more types of fish. The Health Department says pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children should eat no fish from the mercury-tainted waters. Others should limit the amount of fish they eat.

EDIT

Fish are considered a health risk when mercury hits 0.5 parts per million in their tissue. Recent tests found levels as high as 0.91 ppm in fish from Dragon Run, 1.69 ppm in Lake Drummond and 1.89 ppm in the Blackwater.

EDIT/END

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784174058

On edit: Fixed headline

[Teaser]

1. Let's go for 5!!!

C'mon. 4x the legal limit? That's hardly trying.

[acmavm]

2. Pretty soon Virginians won't have to worry about electricity. They'll all

glow in the dark like a 100 watt bulb.

[Syncronaut Seven]

3. It's coming from the coal, isn't it.

What's upwind?

[hatrack]

5. Oh, the Ohio Valley, the TVA, Southern Company, AEP, TXU . . .

If it burns and eats coal, it's upwind of Virginia.

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. And we still build new Coal fired Power Plants n/t