"Mercury falls on almost no place in Northeastern North America more than it does in the Hudson Valley's backyard -- the Catskill Mountains -- according to one of a series of scientific studies about mercury pollution to be published next month. The studies took more than 50 scientists four years, and will be published in a special edition of the scientific journal Ecotoxicology.
The studies compiled and analyzed data from across the Northeast United States and Eastern Canada. The results showed emissions from coal-fired power plants and industry have led to widespread mercury contamination in wildlife -- including many mountainous and rural areas like New York's Adirondack Mountains that surprised scientists. ''Decisions regarding how much to reduce emissions are made in part on how much is deposited. These new findings suggest we need to revisit assumptions made by the EPA to set emissions targets,'' said Eric Miller, president of the Ecosystems Research Group in Norwich, Vt., which contributed to the studies.
Scott Segal, executive director of the industry group Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, did not return several phone calls seeking comment about these studies.
Ten of 13 species of fish analyzed -- including white perch, lake trout, small- and largemouth bass -- were highly contaminated across the study area. People are exposed to toxic mercury primarily by eating contaminated fish. In humans, mercury can damage brain development, learning and neurological functioning, especially on developing fetuses and children. The effects documented in wildlife are similar."
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