Media misses major story on mercury pollution in South Florida ... by gimleteye

One of the biggest public health and environment stories that somehow never quite finds its way up the Florida news food chain is the growing rise of mercury contamination. Mercury is a major risk to women and fetuses. How prevalent is the bad form of mercury in South Florida?

Last week a Scripps story ran in Martin County. The county is wedged between St. Lucie and Palm Beach. The story is about a free booklet made available by the county health department directing readers to a healthy fish diet while avoiding fish at most risk for mercury accumulation. It buries a shocking detail fourth fifths of the way through: "Women in Martin County have the highest methylmercury contamination nationally, according to data from similar studies: Martin County women were at 25 percent, Duval County at 7 percent, Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties were at 16 percent, while 12 percent was the national average."

Twice the national average and that is not the lead? So let's see: what could be going on in Martin County?

For starters (and not in the Scripps story), much of the pollution from Big Sugar drains through Martin County. Lake Okeechobee is a cesspool and sewer from big agricultural producers: ie. Big Sugar. The Scripps story lists the popular species known to contain higher levels of mercury: including tuna and swordfish.

But wait. Hold the presses. Are the women of Martin County eating ocean-going pelagics at twice the national average and significantly more than surrounding counties? More likely there is something in local "fresh" water inlets, canals draining from sugar polluters, and the St. Lucie, that is getting into women at higher than predicted or normal values. At any rate, next month the Society of Environmental Journalists will be holding its annual meeting in Miami. Journalists from all over the world will be visiting and it will be interesting to see how the story on mercury pollution bubbles up, during the conference or, even, if anyone notices.



Martin booklet lists recipes, fish with lower mercury risk
By Lisa Bolivar

Originally published 07:04 a.m., September 21, 2011
Updated 11:22 a.m., September 21, 2011

STUART — Eating fish with high mercury contamination can result in serious health problems, and that is why the Martin County Health Department has created a free booklet that lists high risk fish.

The booklet, created in response to last year's survey that shows that one in four Martin County women of child-bearing age have high percentages of mercury in their systems, will be distributed at local OB/GYN offices and at the county health office.

Elevated mercury is a potential threat to unborn fetuses who may develop neurological and other problems, said Bob Washam, environmental health director with Martin County.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website says that "Methylmercury exposure in the womb, which can result from a mother's consumption of fish and shellfish that contain methylmercury, can adversely affect a baby's growing brain and nervous system. Impacts on cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, and fine motor and visual spatial skills have been seen in children exposed to methylmercury in the womb."

The booklet: "Recipes & Information For Good Health: Seafood Issue" lists fish facts about understanding mercury in seafood, and then offers some yummy recipes for fish that are apt to have lower methylmercury contamination, the toxic chemical found in fish flesh.

"We try to caution them (women) that eating fish is healthy and to continue to eat fish, but if they are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant, they need to look at the type of fish they are eating," Washam said.

The booklet lists tuna, swordfish, Chilean sea bass, orange roughy, tilefish, jack and king mackerel as fish that are apt to contain high levels of mercury, while declaring shrimp of U.S. origin, wild salmon, catfish, shellfish, crab, American tilapia and light tuna to be on the safest side. It also lists fish species with moderate and light contamination levels.

Women in Martin County have the highest methylmercury contamination nationally, according to data from similar studies: Martin County women were at 25 percent, Duval County at 7 percent, Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties were at 16 percent, while 12 percent was the national average.

A CDC report in 2002 showed that 6 percent of women had elevated levels of mercury nationally, according to their website.

Mark Perry, executive director at the Florida Oceanographic Society said he is pleased to see the county providing this provocative and informative booklet.

"I am glad somebody is continuing to bring this to the public's awareness, because people don't know," Perry said, adding that local agricultural runoff may be the culprit to higher-than-average levels.

"Some of the deep water fish can have their nurseries on our estuaries, and grouper is one. It's unfortunate," he said. "People need to follow those guidelines, too; it's real important," Perry said. "It's amazing how much can be accumulated in the fish in our area."

Get the booklet

The booklet is free. Download a copy from the Health Department’s website, www.MartinCountyHealth.com and scroll down to "Mercury & Seafood," or visit the Health Department at 3441 SE Willoughby Blvd., in Stuart.


© 2011 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online