The Ogeechee River may seem safe and serene. There is, however, an unseen danger lurking in its muddy waters – mercury, a toxic pollutant. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) With the approach of summer months, fishing the Ogeechee River is a favorite pastime. Eating the fish pulled out of the river, however, should be done with caution. A report released last week by the Ogeechee Riverkeeper notes that a volunteer fish collection held last fall found mercury, a toxic pollutant, in every fish collected from the Ogeechee River.

Chandra Brown, Ogeechee Riverkeeper executive director, said that over 60 fish were collected and sent to a University of Georgia laboratory for monitoring of the mercury levels. The results found that largemouth bass and larger fish from both the Ogeechee and Canoochee rivers had mercury levels high enough to warrant a recommendation to eat them only once a month. Smaller fish such as catfish, redbreast and suckers had sufficient levels of mercury to trigger a recommendation to limit eating those fish to one meal a week or less. There was no limit on mullet.

The report further notes that currently the Ogeechee and Canoochee rivers, in fact most south Georgia streams, have levels of mercury high enough in the fish in their waters to cause birth defects and other problems such as lower IQ levels and learning disabilities for babies and young children.

Of the fish caught along in-shore coastal waters, the mercury levels were much lower than those found in the Ogeechee and Canoochee rivers. However, every fish collected had mercury in it. As a result, Ogeechee Riverkeeper recommends limiting consumption of sea trout and whiting to no more than one meal a week, particularly for the most vulnerable populations, women of childbearing years and young children. So where does the mercury come from?

“Ninety-nine percent of the mercury in the Ogeechee River system comes from air pollution,” said Mrs. Brown. “The vast majority of the mercury released to our air comes from coal fired power plants. The best thing we can do to reduce the amount of mercury in the fish and on our families’ dinner tables is to reduce our electricity usage.”

Cleaning up the sources of the mercury pollution will be longterm, Brown said, but she offered the following suggestions as ways citizens may protect themselves in the short term:

• Reduce your risk by limiting exposure to contaminated fish and seafood; choose smaller fish and eat smaller portions; and vary the type of fish you eat;

• Stay informed by visiting the Ogeechee Riverkeeper at http:// www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/ mercury to view the entire report and;

• Take action by having your mercury levels tested; reducing mercury coming into the river and save money by saving electricity; and volunteering to help out.

Brown stressed that the purpose of the report was to help people make better choices.