Wondering why so many of our fish are listed under do-not-eat advisories for mercury contamination?

Part of the answer has to do with the biological conversion of mercury, a common element, into a toxic, organic form that travels up the food chain.

The other part has to do with a political lack of willpower to stop excessive, unnatural atmospheric deposition of mercury. According to a press release from the National Wildlife Federation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allowed Florida power plants to increase mercury air pollution by 28.3 percent above current levels until 2017. Coal-fired power plants account for more than 40 percent of all mercury emissions in the U.S. each year.

The Federation, along with some 121 hunting and fishing clubs in Florida, is spreading word about an upcoming Senate debate on a resolution aimed to reign in EPA’s leniency on power plant emissions. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the resolution.

Levels of methylmercury contamination (as measured in fish) dropped in some parts of South Florida following cuts in emissions from municipal waste incinerators and other sources in the 1990s. Many residents would benefit from further cuts in atmospheric deposition of mercury. Florida is home to dozens of coal-fired power plants.

Methylmercury conversion occurs among certain bacterium in an aquatic environment, and travels up the foodchain; that’s why it can be a problem in fish, or at least why it shows up most often there. It can build up in humans who consume fish, and at certain levels affects cognitive and motor skills; extreme amounts can be fatal. Infants in utero or breast-feeding can be especially vulnerable to methylmercury toxicity, via the mother’s diet.

Participating in a voluntary study initiated by Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, the editor of Florida Sportsman Magazine, Jeff Weakley, recently tested slightly above the recommended methylmercury limit established by EPA. Weakley eats fish no more than once per week (preferring pasta and burgers), and judiciously follows consumption advisories posted by the Florida Department of Health. His methylmercury level—determined by analysis of a hair sample--was 1.97 ug/g; a newsletter from Greenpeace suggested that figure could put him “at elevated risk if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing a baby.” Fortunately, Weakley is unable to perform any of the stated tasks, but the news did leave him concerned for Florida residents—and reluctant to consume swordfish and kingfish steaks.

“Urge our senators Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson to support Collins’ and Leahy’s resolution,” Weakley encouraged FS readers. “At the very least, challenge them to take the mercury test.”

Contacts for both of Florida’s U.S. Senators can be found at www.senate.gov

For bulletins on fish consumption, visit www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/fishconsumptionadvisories/index.htm

FS