Governor Kaine Announces Mercury Study
Governor Kaine Announces Mercury Study
- Study will seek to determine sources of mercury in Virginia waters -
Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that Virginia has launched its first-ever comprehensive study of mercury's effects on the Commonwealth's environment. The $256,000 study, funded at Governor Kaine's direction with an appropriation from the Virginia Environmental Emergency Response Fund, is expected to draw on existing data and research to evaluate possible methods to reduce the presence of mercury in the environment.
The Department of Environmental Quality will conduct the study, which will have two tasks: analyzing existing data on mercury air emissions and conducting computer modeling on how mercury falls from the air to land and water. DEQ also will seek to determine the extent to which mercury is being generated from within Virginia's borders and from sources out of state. The department already has begun consulting with industry and others to develop an inventory of likely mercury-generating sources.
"Our understanding of mercury's effect on the environment is incomplete. We need more information on the steps we should take to reduce mercury contamination," Governor Kaine said. "We expect this study to provide the best possible information on how mercury affects Virginians and our natural resources."
Portions of the study will be due in 2007, with the final report due in May 2008. The study was authorized by the 2006 General Assembly.
Mercury is a toxic pollutant that persistently accumulates in the food chain. Atmospheric mercury falls to the earth through rain, snow, and dry deposition and enters lakes, rivers, and estuaries. Once in waters, mercury can transform into methylmercury and build up in fish tissue. Humans are exposed to methylmercury primarily by eating fish. Mercury has been shown to pose health risks, especially to developing fetuses; thus, women of childbearing age are regarded as the population of greatest concern. Children who are exposed to methylmercury before birth may be at increased risk of poor performance on neurobehavioral tasks, such as those measuring attention, fine motor function, language skills, visual spatial abilities, and verbal memory.
Virginia waters showing unusually high levels of mercury - suspected for atmospheric deposition - include many in the eastern part of the state, such as the Piankatank River, Pamunkey River, Mattaponi River, and Dragon Run; the Great Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond in Chesapeake; Lake Trashmore and Lake Whitehurst in Virginia Beach; and Harrison Lake and Chickahominy Lake in Charles City County.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=339