Something fishy?

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers are analyzing fish from about 500 randomly selected lakes and reservoirs across the country for ultra-low, trace levels of mercury and for specific forms of arsenic. The project is focused on freshwater game fish, such as lake trout, and bottom-dwelling fish, such as catfish. It is part of the National Fish Monitoring Study and is being performed through a contract between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Battelle, which operates PNNL for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Mercury has been detected in all of the 400 fish researchers have analyzed two years into the four-year study, while arsenic levels have been extremely low or nondetectable. "Mercury is a relatively high risk in some freshwater fish, depending on the species, age and body of water," said Eric Crecelius, PNNL program manager for the study.

When the study is complete, the EPA will send the data to individual states, which will use it to make decisions about the health risks of freshwater fish in specific bodies of water.