Curiously, the upwind site located the same distance away had an identical mercury level. Makholm attributes this to the sporadic, non-regular burps of mercury vapor coming from Vulcan and catching different wind directions. Pavely points out that the mercury escaping from the Vulcan plant is in its elemental form and not subject to uptake in the tissues of fish and other creatures. Scientists believe, however, that bacteria in many lakes and waters will change elemental mercury into methylmercury, the form which then does accumulate and move up the foodchain. Vulcan is not the only contributor to the state s mercury pollution problem.
Sources located outside of the state also contribute significantly to Wisconsin s mercury rain.
He mentions that the DNR prints only 40,000 copies of its fish advisory despite the nearly one million people who fish the state s waters. Lind says it s important to get the message out about mercury contamination and he wants action taken to address the problem. The DNR has issued a white paper on the mercury problem and has convened a stakeholders group of businesses, legislators, environmentalists, Native Americans, hospital associations and lake associations to look at the issue. The stakeholders group has met three times and will visit the Vulcan plant in June as part of its next meeting. He says management at the Vulcan plant has indicated a willingness to work on the problem.