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 Every summer as
the heat rises, many people enjoy splashing and playing in
lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water calms, inspires, and
provides a place to gather and celebrate with our families
and communities. But there could be danger lurking in the
blue-green waters we enjoy so much. A report released in
August 2004 by
Clear the
Air analyzed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data
from 2,500 fish samples taken from 500 lakes and rivers
across the country. The report found that every fish sampled
was contaminated by mercury. Perhaps even more disturbing,
the report concluded that 55 percent of the fish contained
levels of mercury unsafe for women in their childbearing
years and 76 percent of the fish were unsafe for children
age three and under. Women planning to have children should
be particularly concerned about the report because some fish
and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury than others,
and those levels may harm an unborn baby or a young child’s
developing nervous system.
EPA report.
From Mad Hatter To Fish
Batter
In the nineteenth century, tradesmen who made hats would rub
mercury onto the cloth to preserve the felt. Many of those
men suffered from personality changes, nervousness,
trembling, and even dementia; thus, the term “mad hatters.”
Most people today are more aware of the dangers of mercury,
and many of its uses have been discontinued. However,
mercury pollution still exists, and health professionals,
environmentalists, and the faith community are increasingly
vocal about the harm it causes.
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment, yet it can also
be released into the air through industrial pollution.
Mercury emissions come largely from coal-fired power plants. Every year, coal-fired power plants in the United States
release 48 tons of mercury into the air —mercury that falls
back into and our lakes, rivers, and oceans. Bacteria in the
water then cause chemical changes that transform mercury
into methylmercury, which can be toxic. Smaller fish absorb
methylmercury from the water as they feed on aquatic
organisms. Larger fish eat smaller fish, and humans eat
larger fish. You get the picture.
 Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that affects the human nervous
system, and it can be particularly harmful to a fetus or to
young children because their brains and bodies are still
growing.1 Nursing infants whose mothers’ ingest
contaminated fish can be exposed to mercury through breast milk.
The effects of elevated mercury levels in a fetus or young
child include learning difficulties, heart problems, visual
impairments, and central nervous system disorders. The EPA estimates
that one in six women of childbearing age has a
higher-than-recommended level of mercury in her system.
Some estimates calculate that as many as 630,000 newborn
babies are affected each year.2
Federal officials recommend
consumers check local health advisories that warn about
avoiding or limiting fish consumption due to mercury
pollution. In 2003, 48 states and the District of Columbia
issued fish advisories that encompassed 35 percent of the
nation’s lakes and 24 percent of its rivers.
See EPA report.
___________________________
1
"Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or
organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys
and developing fetus." (Agency of Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, ToxFAQ April 1999).
2
Clayton, Mark: "The Christian Science Monitor"; Mercury
Rising, April 29, 2004
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