Elevated Mercury Levels Found Near Eastern Oklahoma Town

Sunday, June 17th 2007, 4:39 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- Mercury concentrations in rainfall samples collected near an eastern Oklahoma town were higher than those found in all but one other town in the U.S., environmental researchers said.

Rainfall samples collected at an air quality station near Stilwell in Adair County had a mercury concentration of 15.4 nanograms per liter, more than twice the national average of about 7 nanograms per liter, according to the Mercury Deposition Network, which is part of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has previously identified coal-fired power plants as a main source of atmospheric mercury, and four such plants are in counties near to Stilwell.

Researchers said the reasons for the high mercury measurement near Stilwell remain unclear.