Floridians beware of Mercury in bass
06-04-2005, 01:49 PM
#1
Dominant Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 25,116
Floridians beware of Mercury in bass
Here is an intresting clip from an article.
Key findings include the following:
• All of the fish samples EPA tested in Florida, and nationwide, were contaminated with mercury.
• In Florida, 63% of the fish samples contained mercury levels that exceed EPA’s “safe” limit for women of average weight who eat fish twice per week.
• The average mercury concentration of the composite samples from Florida lakes was 0.26 ppm, or twice the level that EPA considers safe (The EPA “safe” limit for women of average weight who eat fish twice per week is 0.13 ppm).
• 92% of largemouth bass tested in Florida had mercury levels that exceed that EPA’s “safe” limit.
• Nationwide, 55 % of the fish samples exceeded the safe mercury limit for women and 76 % exceeded the safe limit for children of average weight under age three who eat fish twice a week.
"The “Reel Danger” report clearly shows why, according to a recent poll of Florida anglers, 85 percent support implementing the strongest possible controls for mercury from smokestacks. The Bush administration's weak mercury rule would sentence another generation of Florida anglers to fishing under the cloud of mercury consumption advisories," said Jerry Karnas, Florida organizer with National Wildlife Action.
“Rather than take action to solve this serious public health problem, the Bush administration is putting off for at least 10 years what they should do today,” stated Binns.
Mercury is toxic to the developing brain, and exposure in the womb can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other serious health problems in children. EPA estimates that one in six women of childbearing age has enough mercury in her blood to put her child at risk. Eating contaminated fish is the primary way people are exposed to mercury.
Chuck
Key findings include the following:
• All of the fish samples EPA tested in Florida, and nationwide, were contaminated with mercury.
• In Florida, 63% of the fish samples contained mercury levels that exceed EPA’s “safe” limit for women of average weight who eat fish twice per week.
• The average mercury concentration of the composite samples from Florida lakes was 0.26 ppm, or twice the level that EPA considers safe (The EPA “safe” limit for women of average weight who eat fish twice per week is 0.13 ppm).
• 92% of largemouth bass tested in Florida had mercury levels that exceed that EPA’s “safe” limit.
• Nationwide, 55 % of the fish samples exceeded the safe mercury limit for women and 76 % exceeded the safe limit for children of average weight under age three who eat fish twice a week.
"The “Reel Danger” report clearly shows why, according to a recent poll of Florida anglers, 85 percent support implementing the strongest possible controls for mercury from smokestacks. The Bush administration's weak mercury rule would sentence another generation of Florida anglers to fishing under the cloud of mercury consumption advisories," said Jerry Karnas, Florida organizer with National Wildlife Action.
“Rather than take action to solve this serious public health problem, the Bush administration is putting off for at least 10 years what they should do today,” stated Binns.
Mercury is toxic to the developing brain, and exposure in the womb can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other serious health problems in children. EPA estimates that one in six women of childbearing age has enough mercury in her blood to put her child at risk. Eating contaminated fish is the primary way people are exposed to mercury.
Chuck
06-06-2005, 05:47 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: A flat lander lost in the mountains of Northern,AZ
Posts: 3,171
RE: Floridians beware of Mercury in bass
theres high levels of mercury in the bass here too in Arizona. Not a big deal if you are a sport fishermen like myself, and practice catch and release on the bass species.
