Lahontan Reservoir, safe or unsafe?

Lahontan Reservoir 

safe or unsafe?

When reading this article, please keep in mind these are questions? They are questions that any concerned parent or person would have if they were living under similar conditions. And as far as I know there is not a law against asking questions. The article is not intended to imply anything about the Churchill County, Fallon, Nevada area. Although their should probably be a better explanation given to the public about heavy metal contamination, other than scientific reports that only someone with a degree can read or understand.

  Today I thought I would ask a few questions about a local matter. For many years now we have known that due to mercury contamination of the Carson River in Nevada, that the fish in 

Lahontan Reservoir are not safe to eat, correct? In my research concerning the contamination of mercury, I found the government information to be mainly concerned about the consumption of the fish from the reservoir. I did learn that the contamination is throughout the water system and that the Indian Lakes area has the higher concentrations of mercury. I found little if any information as to how this contamination affects agricultural crops, livestock, wildlife or people. I also found little information regarding other heavy metals and contaminants that would've resulted from the same mining operation that caused the mercury contamination.

     Many are using this irrigation water from the reservoir to water their crops and in some cases water their livestock, is that safe? If the fish are contaminated how is it that the cows drinking this water are not contaminated or the milk they produce? If hay fields are irrigated with water from the reservoir how is it that these agricultural fields are not contaminated as well?  Lahontan Reservoir is also used as a recreational area in which people use the reservoir for swimming boating and fishing.(With the understanding that the majority of the fish, are catch and release and not consumed.) EPA does not consider mercury to be a carcinogen but it is a well-known toxin that causes nerve damage and with enough exposure mercury can kill you. As for the wildlife, some of the game birds and other animals that feed on the fish are showing high levels of mercury, but for some reason there there dosn't seem to be a limit on the number of birds you eat like there is a limit on the fish, why is that?

    As a kid growing up in Fallon, Nevada I spent many a summer day swimming either in the canals or the lakes and reservoirs. To this day I still wonder how many of my health issues are the result of being exposed to this toxic substance. What is even more interesting is that fact that if you have your well water tested, Mercury, lead and other toxic heavy metals are not tested for unless you specifically request to have those test done, why is that? You would think that if you were living in an area that was prone to heavy metal contamination, that the government would want to know what the current levels are? Although, I have been told by some lawyers that the reason for this is deniability. In other words our local government may try and play dumb should a serious problem arise. They will simply say," I didn't know" and thus not be liable for anything.

    The Fallon area has been my home most of my life. It would be hard for me to think of living elsewhere, but don't you think we deserve the right to know what were dealing with? If we are being exposed to a toxic substance, do we not at the very least deserve the right to know what is killing us? And with all that said could we at least get someone to explain it to us in a simple non-scientific, non-legalese language so we don't have to hire an interpreter? After all how many of you actually trust our government to look out for our best interests? 

     

What are the safest products on the market today?

So think about it.
Who gets to use the safest products on the market?

What products go through the most testing?

If we are so worried about unsafe consumer products, then why are we not buying more baby products? No dies, no perfumes, and nothing that would be harmful to a sensitive infant. Why aren't all products made with the same safety restrictions?

Artificial sweeteners, safe or unsafe?

    In the 1970s saccharin was found to be unsafe for human consumption as research studies indicated that it caused cancer in lab rats. I remember that the initial response was the FDA banning the product product from store shelves, but that idea was rescinded with the argument that there was no alternative for diabetics to use at the time. So it was kept on the shelves but every product containing saccharin was required to have a warning label letting people know that it may cause cancer. In 2000 warning labels were removed because supposedly cancer was only found in laboratory mice or rats because their biology was slightly different.

Questions

If there is a difference between the biology of the rats and humans, shouldn't there be questions about all other products that were tested using this method? Why are food products tested by the manufacturer and not an independent laboratory? Mice and rats are used for testing food and drugs because their biology is similar to ours, but if this is not the case then how can we trust anything that the FDA has to say? If this same method is used to test other artificial sweeteners, are exemptions being made for these products as well? If a product is found to be carcinogenic but can still be sold so long as it has a warning label on it, does that mean mass murder is okay so long as you have a warning label? Euthanasia is considered to be illegal in this country, but it's okay to buy a product that will kill you?

Question everything, is there a conspiracy on vitamins and supliments.

Question everything; is there a conspiracy to remove vitamins and supliments ?

If vitamins and supplements are hazardous, then shouldn't they be removed from all our food? If vitamins and supplements are made illegal, should vitamin B shots also be made illegal? Are doctors and pharmaceuticals just looking to eliminate their competition? Which would you rather take, a pharmaceutical drug with hundreds of side effects, or a supplement that has few if any? If your food is safe and healthy, why should you have to add a vitamin supplement? Should we be more concerned with what is in our food than what is not, or is it just as important?

Bottled water ?

So what is the difference between their tap and my tap and if it is the same why am I paying for it?

chemical sprays, safe or not safe?

Why is it safe to spray chemicals on our food, in homes, and repellant on ourselves and our pets, but not safe to eat? If it kills the bugs what stops it from killing us in the same way? If you find bugs in your food does that mean your food is safe to eat or that the bugs are no_longer affected by the chemicals in your food?