Mercury warnings postedSigns about tainted fish going up at fishing spots in S.C. By Tony Bartelme (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Hoping to raise awareness about mercury-tainted fish, health officials have begun posting roughly 400 warning signs at fishing holes and lakes across South Carolina where biologists have found high levels of mercury. 
DHEC State health officials are installing signs on the Edisto River and other sites around the state advising people about the dangers of eating fish with high levels of mercury. Written in English and Spanish, the signs have pictures of fish tailored to each particular water body and include advice on how much fish is safe to eat and, in some cases, whether people should avoid eating a single bite. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin linked to nervous disorders, brain damage and other health problems. A series in The Post and Courier last year identified freshwater mercury hot spots in the state and revealed for the first time how people who frequently eat fish from these areas have unusually high levels of mercury in their bodies. The series prompted the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to take a new look at how it measures and regulates mercury. Installing the signs is one of the first steps in this effort. Previous coverageRead previous stories on mercury by The Post and Courier. "The signs are to increase awareness about eating the right types and safe amounts of fish," said David Wilson, chief of DHEC's Bureau of Water. Wilson said the 400 signs cost about $50,000 and should be in place within six weeks. Among other things, the signs include advice to those most at risk of mercury poisoning — women who are pregnant, nursing or in childbearing years. Some signs also will identify waters that have high levels of fecal-coliform bacteria from human or animal waste, he said. People who swim in these waters have a higher chance of getting sick. More than 1,700 miles of river in South Carolina have fish with high levels of mercury, DHEC records show. Man-made sources of mercury include coal-fired power plants, cement plants and certain factories. "There was such a burning need for these signs," said Nancy Vinson of the Coastal Conservation League. "Unless people had computers or read the paper, they weren't likely to know that most of our rivers have fish that are toxic for human consumption." The next step, added Blan Holman of the Southern Environmental Law Center, is "for DHEC to clamp down on the state's biggest mercury polluters: coal-fired power plants." Reach Tony Bartelme at 937-5554 or tbartelme@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by kayaker on March 4, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$50,000, not including installation costs, for people who don't read the paper, don't have Internet, and don't watch TV - what makes anyone think they will READ the signs?
Stand by for the lawsuits, coming soon to South Carolina.
Posted by bluecap on March 4, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Betcha they don't have such signs in English south of the border. How much did it cost to add the Spanish?
Posted by TheClick on March 4, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DHEC has been testing fish for mercury and issuing consumption advisories for decades. If people keep eating the fish included in the advisory, of course they'll have mercury in their bodies.
Perhaps JohnQ would like to have the government hold his hand and lead him through life.
Posted by majorjohnson on March 4, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JohnQ wants to shut down every industry that doesn't pay his salary...his employer good, all other employers bad.
Can't expect much rational thought from someone who is proud to be a fascist and thinks it's the best thing since communism.
Posted by majorjohnson on March 4, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since you seem to know so much and are ready to toss tax dollars into treatment for methylmercurial poisoning treatment JohnQ, how about you tell us exactly what treatment that would be? Chelation? Do you have even the slightest idea what you are talking about? Do you understand the difference between elemental and organic mercury poisoning? How exactly is DHEC supposed to treat these methylmercury cases (which haven't even been shown to actually be hurtful to anyone)? Try to chelate with DMSA or EDTA?
You are a pathetic idiot with absolutley no clue what you are talking about. How about DHEC makes pigs fly while they are at this fantasy treatment of imaginary methymercury poisoning?
Posted by magoo on March 4, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are there so many ads begging you to eat local seafood, if the local seafood is contaminated ?
Posted by jnot on March 4, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There's a big difference between river fish and ocean fish. Most of what you eat at your local restaurants is from the ocean and not from the rivers... however, if someone's serving fish from local rivers, I'd say no thanks.
Posted by ColdBeer on March 5, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I eat river fish from the Cooper all the time. Then again, I've always been a heavy metal fan :)