The pollution of common lakes and rivers by mercury and other pollutants in North America is a growing concern. This topic has been examined and studied by a number of mainstream media sources.
In this article you’ll find 6 articles discussing various studies, facts, and effects related to the contamination of rivers and lakes.
Sources include CBS News, Chigago Tribue, and MSN Health.
1. Mercury in Fish Widespread, Study Shows
That’s the take-home message from a federal study of mercury contamination released Wednesday that tested fish from nearly 300 streams across the country. The toxic substance was found in every fish sampled, a finding that underscores how widespread mercury pollution has become.
But while all fish had traces of contamination, only about a quarter had mercury levels exceeding what the Environmental Protection Agency says is safe for people eating average amounts of fish.
2. Toxins in Lake Michigan Fish Linked to Diabetes
This is a fish tale in which smaller is better than bigger, especially if the catch is to be eaten in any quantity.
That’s because a new study of Great Lakes boat captains over 15 years found a correlation between the chemical DDE and diabetes. Those who ate more fish had more DDE in their blood and were more likely to develop diabetes, according to results published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives in July.
3. Fertilizer Ban Improves Quality of Nearby Lakes and Rivers
Banning or restricting the use of certain types of lawn fertilizers can improve water quality in nearby lakes and streams, new research shows.
Rain and runoff can cause lawn fertilizers that contain phosphorous to leach from the soil into waterways, killing fish, causing foul-smelling algae blooms and disrupting the marine ecosystem.
4. Weed Killer May Be in Your Drinking Water at Dangerous Levels
In NRDC’s new atrazine report we analyzed a mountain of data showing widespread water contamination from atrazine, a toxic herbicide. The data was mostly, but not all, generated by Syngenta, the main manufacturer of atrazine. Are you drinking atrazine in your tap water? Possibly. Fishing, swimming, or boating in it? Probably. Check out the report to look up specific information for your state.
Atrazine is sold under kick-butt trade names like Bicep II Magnum. The Website boasts that it’s “how fields get clean, and stay clean”. That’s ag-speak for kills every green thing in the field before you plant the crop … even the good stuff like beneficial nutrient-rich plants and bacteria in the soil.
5. How Farm-Raised Salmon Are Turning Our Oceans Into Dangerous and Polluted Feedlots
“Farm-raised salmon” sounds nice and sustainable, but they’ve become harbingers of disease, contaminating the oceans with antibiotics and toxic chemicals.
The fish makes gourmets rejoice. Smoked-salmon quiche, grilled salmon with lime butter sauce, salmon sushi, poached salmon fillets with dill crème fraîche — really the choices with salmon are endless and delicious.
6. Flame Retardant Chemicals Found in U.S. Coastal Waters and Great Lakes
Toxic flame retarding chemicals are found in all U.S. coastal waters and in the Great Lakes, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances.
“This is a wake-up call for Americans concerned about the health of our coastal waters and their personal health,” said John Dunnigan, assistant administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA’s) National Ocean Service. “Scientific evidence strongly documents that these contaminants impact the food web and action is needed to reduce the threats posed to aquatic resources and human health.”
