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Most mercury in Superior from atmosphere

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:36 am
by johnhens
Most of the mercury that shows up in Lake Superior comes from the atmosphere.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3 ... atmosphere

Re: Most mercury in Superior from atmosphere

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 6:30 am
by head2north
This is especially a concern for the fish population intended for consumption. When ever I fish a particular lake and plan on several shore lunches, I attempt
to do some research on that lake. Minnesota offers fish consumption warnings for most Northern Lakes, but I have yet to find any for Isle Royale.

Re: Most mercury in Superior from atmosphere

Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 6:35 pm
by johnhens

Re: Most mercury in Superior from atmosphere

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 5:09 pm
by head2north
I wasn't aware that Lake Siskiwit had a high Mercury level. Those big fatty Lake Trout always get tossed back into the lake for reproduction if landed in my canoe.
One meal a month is usually the guideline for high mercury/old fish if you are pregnant or young.

Re: Most mercury in Superior from atmosphere

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 3:28 pm
by odd man out
My only trip to IR was in 1984 when I was a grad student in the biochemistry department at MSU. I was on vacation with my wife, staying at RH in one of the housekeeping cabins. We took the Voyageur ii down to daisy farm so we could day hike back to rock harbor. On the boat I see a bunch of boxes on the deck labeled "property of MSU biochemistry". That gets my attention. I look up and see some of my fellow grad students and my prof. Small world I think. They explain that they were taking environmental samples from inland lakes so they can determine how much pollution comes from airborne sources since there are few surface sources of pollution on inland lakes of IR. So this type of research has been going on for a long time. IR's special status makes it a valuable resource.