Since the 1970 mercury "scare" on Lake St. Clair, Michigan has issued printed fish consumption advisories because of chemical contaminants. For the first time in all those years, the state has discontinued printing the advisory this year. It's a disgrace -- another sign of a government too pauperized to fulfill its basic responsibilities. In this case, to women of child-bearing age. There is some small hope that the state health budget for the fiscal year beginning next week will earmark a small amount of federal money to get the printed advisory to low-income women participating in the WIC program.
This Free Press editorial today is exactly right:
"It's not news that fish tested in virtually every Michigan lake have at least some mercury. But a ranking of the lakes by how much mercury is in them only underscores the danger Michigan is courting this year by not printing fish advisories. "
http://www.freep.com/voices/editorials/elakes23_20040923.htm