Toxic pollution in the Great Lakes has reached such high levels that the International Joint Commission (IJC), a U.S.-Canada scientific advisory board, is warning people against eating fish from the lakes. Several states in the region routinely advise residents not to consume too much fish, but about 5 million people still fish in the Great Lakes ecosystem each year, and the area’s commercial fishing industry brings in about $4 billion a year. In a report to be released next week, the IJC says eating contaminated fish can damage the neurological systems of children and developing fetuses, as well as cause other health problems.
