Document DvoXvX90OwgE9eQkdB22E8Mkd

roc/'TFf i o mimo ioAi:o :;a;e journal JAN 18 1976 .*** A.F. Fish Found High in Mercury Water in the American Falla Reservoir contains twice the concentration of mercury listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the maximum allowable if fish and predatory aquatic organisms are to be protected. This indicates a threat to aquatic life, according to an Idaho State University researcher. "The mean value for mercury in American Falls Reservoir wster is 0.4 psrts per billion," said Chris Kent, an ISU graduate student in zoology who has conducted research at the reaervoir. "The EPA has recommended that for the protection of fish and predatory aquatic organisms, total mercury concentration in unfiltered water should not exceed 0.2 parts per billion at any time or place," the researcher said. Kent presented a paper en titled "American Falls Reservoir: Sediment, Fish, and Public Health" before the 14th annual meeting of the Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in McCall Friday. "Mercury was found in all species of fish snslyzed," Kent said. "The Vesearch results s indicated that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)' There Is evidence to warrant standard for human con concern for human health if a sumption of 0.5 parts per million person eats anything with 0.5 of mercury may be commonly parts per million or more of exceeded in crappie, suckers mercury content. and large rainbow trout. Perch Bacteria in the sludge of and brown bullhead did not bottom sediments in the exceed the FDA standard for reservoir are what activate the mercury." mercury and put it in a form Kent said species other than which can be taken up by living rainbow trout were analyzed for organiams. lead, cadmium, and chlorinated "The availability of mercury hydrocarbons. to living organisms is directly "Lead and cadmium were not related to the presence of large detected in reservoir fishes," he numbers of bacteria in the said. "Chlorinated hydrocarbon sludge in the bottom sediments residues, DDT metabolites, of a reservoir," Dr. D.W. dieldrio and PCBs-- Johnson said. "In a free flowing plasticizers--have been found river this problem does not in sediment and fish flesh develop." samples. The concentration and Most of the mercury in the typeofchlorinated hydrocarbon American Fails Reservoir is varied with fiah species end believed to come from hot age. springs up the Snake River 1'Chlorinated hydrocarbons northeast of the reaervoir. were not detected in the water 77iis investigative work is samples. The residue levels of supported by a grant awarded DDT metabolites and dieldrln by the federal Office of Water may be excessive and the Research and Technology to concentration of PCBs exceeds Johnson, an ISU assistant the EPA recommended level of professor of biology, who is 04 parts per million for fish Kent's academic advisor. Kent being consumed." is from Chebanss, 111. MON$ 032942