Mercury in Great Lakes fish remains steady despite reductions in pollution

High water levels on the Great Lakes

High water laps the north Grand Haven fishing pier on June 20, 2019. In July, Lake Michigan tied its 1986 record high water level.Garret Ellison | MLive

Some scientists studying the Great Lakes say they’ve figured out what is causing mercury levels in the fish to increase or remain steady, despite a reduction in area pollution.

Three years ago, some scientists were puzzled by an increase in mercury levels in areas of the Great Lakes despite a prior steady decline in mercury levels since the 1970s. The levels still weren’t surpassing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency thresholds, according to a 2017 article by the Detroit Free Press, but scientists were stumped by how this was happening.

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