Study finds mercury-tainted fish in Glacier's Lake McDonald

[Ptah]

WEST GLACIER – A “first-of-its-kind” study released last week discovered mercury in fish
in some of the most remote and pristine lakes and streams in national parks across the
western United States and Alaska – but it wasn’t a surprise to Glacier National Park
fisheries biologist Chris Downs.

Glacier is updating information for a brochure it already puts out regarding guidelines
for fish consumption from waters inside the park because of contaminants such as mercury,
which is harmful to both human and wildlife health.

“The national study continues to demonstrate that contaminants are reaching places we think
of as isolated or protected,” Downs said. “Because of airborne transport, it’s a global issue.”

National parks can serve as something of a canary in a coal mine, given their protected status
and the way they are managed, when it comes to mercury levels, Downs suggested.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/study-finds-mercury-tainted-fish-in-glacier-s-lake-mcdonald/article_3417c98e-c809-11e3-8453-001a4bcf887a.html