September 8, 2004

Environmentalists to discuss new mercury pollution report

The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- A new report analyzing recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency finds that every lake, river and stream in West Virginia and Ohio is likely contaminated with mercury pollution, tainting popular fish species that people commonly catch and eat.

Local environmentalists and outdoorsmen will gather at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the A.D. Lewis Center, 1450 A.D. Lewis Ave., (10th and 11th Avenues and Hal Greer Boulevard) to discuss the release of the report and data revealing widespread mercury contamination of West Virginia and Ohio lakes and rivers as well as talk about solutions.

The report reveals that every sample from more than 1,000 fish taken from 70 different lakes and rivers are tainted with the dangerous toxin, often at levels that exceed "safe" limits for women of child-bearing age.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates one in six women of child-bearing age in the U.S. has enough mercury in her blood to put her newborn child at risk of mercury poisoning. Eating contaminated fish is the primary way people are exposed to mercury.

Appearing at the meeting will be Abe Mwaura, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition; Jack Shaner, Public Affairs Director, Ohio Environmental Council; Jim Doss, President, Ohio B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation and Libby Callicoat, expectant mother and Huntington resident.

For more information, go online at www.ohvec.org. or call (304) 522-0246.