Some Arkansas Lakes Have High Mercury Counts
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
A new study shows that fish in five Arkansas
lakes have high levels of mercury. The research comes from th US
Public Interest Research Group, which used two years of data that
the Environmental Protection Agency compiled. The random survey is
the first to analyze chemicals in freshwater fish. It found 67
percent of the fish in the lakes had mercury levels higher than
what the EPA deems as safe for women of childbearing age to eat.
Arkansas` statistics are higher than the national average of 55
percent for women and 76 percent for children. Mercury is a natural
element that becomes toxic when it enters the water.
Twenty Arkansas waterways are on an advisory list for mercury
levels issued by the state Department of Health.
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The five lakes that the EPA statistics cover in Arkansas
include Lake DeGray, Greers Ferry, Norfork, Ozark and Horseshoe.
