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MyspaceAccording to the results of a long-stewing state-funded research project, certain types of fish off the California coastline are laced with potentially dangerous levels of mercury. Part of California’s Water Resources Control Board’s multi-year effort to better understand just how polluted the fish may or may not be, the study focused on the landings of recreational fishermen in Los Angeles and San Francisco (plus a few points of data from trips out of Ventura Harbor). It concluded that, though most samples tested “moderate” for mercury and PCB levels, certain fish, such as kelp bass and spotted sand bass as well as various sharks, often tested unhealthily high for mercury. The results for Central Coast-specific sampling will be released next year, with samples from inland water sources due out in 2013.
California Fish Laced with Mercury
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Previous Month
Comments
Mercury in the western US has been traced back to Chinese coal fired power plants. But if the coal interests continue to fight mercury controls here in the US, its hypocritical to ask the Chinese to control theirs. Its all connected . . . and now we shouldn't eat fish . . . so sad.
Marc_Chytilo (Marc Chytilo)
June 1, 2011 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh yes, its just the Chinese coal plants, not ours, which are prolific and have been around a long time with no pollution control upgrades. But you have a good point, about 2 coal fired power plants per week are currently coming on line in China.
Riceman (anonymous profile)
June 1, 2011 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, Marc you're right. Weird that Nixon and George Bush the first were the great environmental protection presidents and Clinton and Obama were out to lunch. Obama should just tell his EPA to jam the coal plant operators and then push for a huge carbon tax on Chinese imports. Nearly everything the Chinese produce is sold here, so they would react to a carbon tax (or even a more focused mercury tax). As long as we let the market have its way with us, it will have its way, and won't even start with a kiss. Lousy amoral market!
Eckermann (anonymous profile)
June 1, 2011 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)