IOWA NEWS SERVICE (A Radio News Service)

Report: Warnings for Mercury Tainted Fish Lax

January 15, 2004

Des Moines, IA --- A limited number of fish and waterways in Iowa are being
tested for mercury contamination, but the public may have a hard time
finding out about - the results aren't being routinely reported to the
public.  The Sierra Club of Iowa is urging the Vilsack and Bush
administrations to do more. Comments from Tarah Heinzen with the Iowa Sierra
Club.

Suggested script:  ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, IOWA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE
MIDWEST THAT HAS ISSUED NO MERCURY ADVISORIES FOR FISH IN ANY OF ITS WATERS.
TARAH HEINZEN WITH THE IOWA SIERRA CLUB SAYS SHE DOESN'T THINK THAT'S
BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONTAMINATION - IT'S JUST THAT IOWA IS BARELY CHECKING
FOR TAINTED FISH.
Actuality Cut #52%%ID%% (TRT: 21) "Last year Iowa only tested 35 fish from
20 of our fishable waters for mercury contamination. Adding to the risks is
the fact that Iowa uses a really lax mercury advisory level rather than the
E.P.A. recommended advisory level, so even though we had fish testing above
the E.P.A. standard, the public wasn't notified."

HEINZEN SAYS THE MOST AT RISK POPULATIONS ARE INFANTS, CHILDREN AND
MOTHERS-TO-BE.   SHE SAYS EXTRA TESTING WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT.
Actuality Cut #53%%ID%% (TRT: 20) "Iowa could be doing a lot more to protect
public health. It's a matter of them going out, finding more waters that
people are actually fishing in, testing more fish and making information on
the potential risks of eating this contaminated fish available to the public
We need them to adopt a protective standard that protects all of Iowa's most
vulnerable citizens."

Suggested tag: JUST LAST MONTH, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EXPANDED THEIR HEALTH WARNINGS ABOUT THE
TOXIC EFFECTS OF EATING MERCURY-TAINTED FISH.
Editor's note: Tarah Heinzen is available for interviews at 515-251-3995.
The Sierra Club report is available at
www.sierraclub.org/mercury/iowa/report

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