Mercury Contamination in U.S. Lakes and Rivers

Mercury pollution is widespread across American waterways.

Every U.S. state has issued fish consumption advisories due to mercury contamination. These advisories warn residents to limit or avoid eating fish from certain lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.

Under the Clean Water Act, thousands of U.S. water bodies are classified as impaired because mercury concentrations in fish exceed safe levels for human consumption.

Environmental monitoring programs have found that mercury contamination affects a large percentage of American freshwater ecosystems. In many regions, fish tissue samples regularly exceed thresholds considered safe for frequent consumption.

This widespread contamination is one reason why environmental agencies continue to monitor mercury levels and regulate emissions from major pollution sources.