Fish in Lake Granby and four other lakes and reservoirs are tainted with mercury, and the state is warning children and pregnant women to limit their consumption of those fish.
The health advisories for fish — including trout, northern pike and large- and small-mouth bass — cover Rifle Gap Reservoir, Elkhead Reservoir, Juniata Reservoir and Catamount Lake, as well as Lake Granby.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued the advisories today.
Mercury is a toxic element that can impair the development of a fetus and damage kidneys and the nervous system.
Routine sampling found that at least one fish species at each site met or exceeded the 0.5 parts per million “action level” set by the state health department.
Because mercury collects in body tissue, bigger fish are likely to contain more of the toxin. The advisory generally warns children 6 years old and under and pregnant women not to eat larger fish or have more than one serving a month.
A prime source of mercury is coal-burning power plants, the state said, and a program is underway to reduce emissions 90 percent by 2018.
Mark Jaffe: 303-954-1912 or mjaffe@denverpost.com
