This news story originally provided by The Herald-Dispatch

DEP aims to reduce mercury emissions, raise awareness

By TOM BREEN
Associated Press Writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- State health officials recommend reducing mercury emissions and making the public more aware of mercury levels in fish, but acknowledge large gaps in what's known about the problem.

In particular, they want to know if West Virginians are exposed to mercury more than residents of other states and - as the Department of Environmental Protection mulls new regulations of the element - whether reducing mercury emissions will result in lower levels in fish.

A public meeting will be held Nov. 28 in Charleston to discuss the findings of a recent report prepared by the Department of Health and Human Resources regarding the potential dangers of mercury emissions in West Virginia.

While that report identified significant gaps in knowledge about the extent of mercury pollution and its possible effects on people, it did reach several conclusions.

Most significantly, the report found that most people are exposed to mercury by eating fish.

"I was surprised at the extent of the exposure from fish," said Barbara J. Smith, an epidemiologist with DHHR and the principle author of the report.

Starting in 2004, the state began issuing advisories about eating fish caught in West Virginia waters based on mercury levels found in the fish.

Current advisories cover waterways all across the state, from the Kanawha River to Wheeling Creek, and list varieties of sport fish and how frequently the state recommends eating them.

But the state doesn't know how often West Virginians eat fish and it doesn't know whether mercury concentration in fish is going up or down. What's more, it's not known whether decreasing mercury emissions would reduce the mercury concentration found in fish.

Margaret James, senior policy analyst with the Appalachian Center for the Economy and Environment, said some opponents of stricter controls often argue that West Virginians don't eat enough fish to justify further emissions reductions. They also argue that mercury problems that have cropped up in other states don't affect West Virginians as much.

"There's not good evidence to say we eat less fish than other states," she said. Since the effects of mercury can be so severe, it's irresponsible to continue with that assumption in the face of a lack of data, she said.

Smith said the DHHR and state Department of Environmental Protection are regularly monitoring data about mercury in fish to see if future studies or advisories are needed.

Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause nerve damage in humans. It is especially dangerous to children, the unborn and women of childbearing age. Methylmercury, an organic form of mercury commonly found in fish, is the type most likely to cause health problems in humans. Currently, according to the DHHR study, coal-burning power plants are the major source of mercury emissions into the air in the United States.

The report comes at a time when mercury pollution is being taken up in state courts and by the legislature.

As ordered by the state legislature, the DEP has until Jan. 1 to propose regulatory changes to address mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and other sources.

Last month, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Irene Berger granted a temporary reprieve to PPG Industries, which had been ordered by the state to reduce mercury discharges into the Ohio River. The company, the largest mercury discharger in West Virginia, operates a plant in Marshall County that environmental groups have claimed is polluting the river with mercury emissions.