Wisconsin is now suing the government... Does anyone know of a good consistent source that keeps track of mercury levels?
Mercury settles in waterways and accumulates in fish. In people who eat those fish, the toxic metal can cause neurological and developmental problems, particularly in fetuses and children.
The governor said mercury pollution seriously threatens Wisconsin's sport fishing industry, which employs 30,000 people, as well as women of childbearing age, pregnant women and young children.
An estimated 40 percent of mercury emissions come from power plants, but those emissions have not been regulated as a pollutant, although the EPA has regulated mercury in water and from municipal waste and medical waste incinerators.
Doyle agreed a federal standard is needed, saying that even with tough standards here, emissions from neighboring states can still harm interior waterways.
"We have a strong standard in Wisconsin, but an incredibly weak proposed national standard that in fact would have us step backward," Doyle said.
In Wisconsin, 90 percent of the lakes and streams have high levels of the toxin and every lake and stream in the state is under a fish consumption advisory. Still, people eat more fish than the national average.
A study in which hair samples from 2,000 volunteers were examined found many residents had higher levels of mercury than are considered safe, said Dr. Henry Anderson, chief medical officer for environmental and occupational health at the state Department of Health and Family Services.
"One in five volunteers have levels that exceeded the risk level," of 1 part per billion, Anderson said Monday. Randomly collected samples are still being analyzed, he said.
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