Fish Advisories
Rising Due to Mercury Risks
EPA: Mercury Emissions Falling, but Fishing Advisories
Rising
Eating fish from more
than a third of the country's lakes and a nearly quarter of its rivers may not
be a healthy idea, according to a new EPA report that shows the threat of
mercury contamination is rising in American waters.
The annual report
shows that more than 100,000 of America's lakes and 800,000 miles of its rivers
are now under advisory due to fish contamination and pollution risks.
Officials say most of
the new fish advisories are due to potential mercury contamination. Eating fish
or shellfish containing low levels of mercury does not pose a health threat to
most people. But eating fish that contains higher levels of mercury may harm an
unborn baby or young child's development.
The FDA and EPA have
recently advised women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers,
and young children to avoid larger fish that typically contain higher levels of
mercury, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.
Fish
Advisories on the Rise
The report shows that
48 states, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa issued more than 3,000
fish advisories in 2003, an increase of 280 from 2002.
Officials say the
number of fish advisories is rising although emissions for major pollutants are
declining because more rivers and lakes are being tested.
States are
responsible for monitoring their own waters by testing fish for pollutants that
accumulate within the tissues, such as mercury or dioxin. As a result, there is
significant state-by-state variation in the numbers of waters and pollutants
tested.
Overall, EPA
officials say the national trend is for states to monitor different waters each
year without retesting waters monitored in previous years.
There were 31 states
with statewide fish advisories in effect in 2003, and officials say new
statewide fish advisories in Montana and Washington are largely responsible for
the increase in lake acreage and river miles under advisory. Hawaii also issued
a statewide fish advisory in 2003 for its entire coastline.
The report shows the
number of waters with fish advisories represent:
· 75%
of America's contiguous coastal waters, including 92% of the Atlantic Coast,
100% of the Gulf Coast, and 37% of the Pacific Coast
· 100%
of the Great Lakes and their connecting waters
· 35%
of the nation's total lake acreage
· 24%
of America's total river miles
Reviewed By
Brunilda Nazario, MD August 2004
