Fish Out Of Silver Creek Contain High Levels Of Mercury

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By Gina Jameson

Story Published: Nov 14, 2007 at 5:38 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 14, 2007 at 5:38 PM CDT

11/14/07

A recent study has found that trout in Silver Creek in central Idaho are contaminated with such high levels of mercury that they are unsafe to eat.

The study by the U.S. Geological Survey on a sampling of 10
brown trout found the fish contained an average mercury level of
.48 parts per million.

Jim Vannoy, program manager at the Idaho Division of Public
Health, says that's above the safe level of 0.1. Some of the fish were taken from The Nature Conservancy's Silver Creek Preserve, a fly fishing destination that draws anglers from around the nation.

The preserve is catch and release, but anglers can keep fish in other parts of the system. Officials say high amounts of mercury can damage the human nervous system, particularly those in developing fetuses.
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