Is there mercury in Lake Michigan?

Though advisories about toxic mercury in fish have continued in Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes, with recommendations to limit consumption of certain species to a few times per month, the amount of mercury found in fish tissues has dropped steadily over decades since the 1970s.

Is there mercury in the Great Lakes?

Mercury is one of the most persistent chemicals found in the Great Lakes. It gradually works its way up the food chain in a process called bioaccumulation. This means that mercury accumulates in greater quantities in predators at the top of the food chain such as large fish and humans.

What is the main source of mercury into Lake Michigan?

The report finds that atmospheric emissions are the primary source of mercury deposition in the Great Lakes basin and it projects that further controls on those emissions will lower mercury concentrations in the food chain.

How much mercury is in the Great Lakes?

A summary of average fish mercury concentrations in frequently consumed fish species show that six out of 15 studied species from the inland waters of the Great Lakes region have average mercury concentrations above 0.30 ppm (the U.S. EPA human health criterion).

Is there mercury in lake water?

Mercury is the leading cause of impairment in the Nation's estuaries and lakes and was cited in nearly 80 percent of all reported fish-consumption advisories. The geographic extent of mercury advisories covers more than 10 million acres of lakes and more than 400,000 stream miles.

Lake Michigan: The Deadliest Great Lake

How much mercury can contaminate a lake?

A more exact summary of the information would be: “Approximately one gram of mercury, the amount in a single fever thermometer, is deposited to a 20-acre lake each year from the atmosphere. This small amount, over time, can contaminate the fish in that lake.”

How does mercury get in lake?

How does mercury get into lakes and streams? The main source to most aquatic environments in the U.S. is from atmospheric deposition (rain, snow, dry particles). Some water bodies also receive mercury from direct discharge of industrial wastes, mining wastes, or naturally occurring mercury minerals.

Which of the Great Lakes is the cleanest?

Watershed's surface: 209,000 square kms. Lake Superior is the largest, cleanest, and wildest of all the Great Lakes.

Are Lake Michigan lake trout safe to eat?

The safest fish to eat are yellow perch, smelt, coho salmon, rainbow trout and lake trout less than 20 inches long. These were found to contain the lowest concentrations of toxic chemicals, minimizing some longstanding concerns about the safety of eating coho salmon.

What causes mercury pollution in lakes?

Mercury pollution in America's waterways comes mainly from coal-fired power plant emissions and other activities that burn fossil fuels. That atmospheric mercury falls into aquatic ecosystems during rain storms, and it accumulates in the sediment.

Is there mercury in lake trout?

Because mercury bioaccumulates in long-lived species and biomagnifies up the food chain, lake trout are a good indicator of the amount of mercury present. Previously, we found that lake trout in southwest Alaska have variable and, in some cases, very elevated mercury concentrations.

Is there mercury in Lake Erie fish?

Mercury levels are increasing in popular species of game fish in Lake Erie. Mercury levels in a popular species of game fish in Lake Erie are increasing after two decades of steady decline, scientists are reporting.

Is there mercury in Lake Erie?

Following the adoption of regulatory measures in the 1970s, studies showed a gradual reduction in mercury contamination in fish in the Great Lakes. However, this trend reversed in the 1990s.

What Great Lake is the deepest?

About the Lakes

It contains almost 3,000 cubic miles of water, an amount that could fill all the other Great Lakes plus three additional Lake Eries. With an average depth approaching 500 feet, Superior also is the coldest and deepest (1,332 feet) of the Great Lakes.

What's the deepest lake in Michigan?

Michigan's deepest lake - Lake Superior

Lake Superior is 1332 feet deep and has an average depth around 500 feet. Lake Superior is so deep it holds as much water as the rest of the Great Lakes and five Lake Eries.

Which is the warmest Great Lake?

Erie is the most southerly, shallow, and biologically diverse of all of the Great Lakes. Its shallow depth makes it the warmest Great Lake and a favourite destination for summer recreationists and migrating birds.

Can you touch mercury?

If you touch it, a small amount may pass through your skin, but not usually enough to harm you. Mercury is most harmful when you breathe in the vapors that are released when a container is open or a spill occurs. Pregnant women, infants and young children are particularly sensitive to the harmful effects of mercury.

How long does mercury stay in the body from fish?

Mercury does not stay in the body forever. It takes about six months to a year to leave the bloodstream once exposure stops. Some researchers think mercury can permanently damage the nervous system in children.

Where do you find mercury naturally?

Mercury occurs naturally in the earth's crust. It is released into the environment from volcanic activity, weathering of rocks and as a result of human activity.

What is the main uncontrollable source of mercury in the United States?

Although coal-fired power plants account for about 40% of mercury emissions in the United States—by far the largest source—mercury pollution from this sec- tor remains completely uncontrolled. Those most at risk from methylmercury are pregnant woman, their fetuses and young chil- dren.

Where is mercury poisoning highest in the world?

A regional overview of total mercury levels in whole blood, cord blood, and breast milk suggests the highest levels in South America, followed by Africa or Asia whereas the population groups from Europe or North America displayed the lowest levels of total mercury in the selected biological matrices.

How long does mercury stay in the brain?

The biological half-life of mercury is estimated to be approximately 30 to 60 days in the body [4]. The half-life of mercury in the brain is not entirely clear, but is estimated to be as long as approximately 20 years.

How do you remove mercury from a lake?

Removing mercury from the water can be achieved using four processes: Coagulation/Filtration, Granular Activated Carbon, Lime Softening, and Reverse Osmosis. Coagulation/filtration is a common treatment which uses AlSO4 that reacts with the mercury to form a solid which can precipitate out of the water.

How do you get rid of mercury in your body naturally?

Eating more fiber.

Your body naturally gets rid of mercury and other potentially toxic substances through feces. Eating more fiber helps to move things more regularly through your gastrointestinal tract, resulting in more bowel movements.