Map by Dhaluza

Got shale? Marcellus Shale, that is. Fish and Wildlife agencies in the region should start taking baseline readings now, before gas extraction infrastructure is even in place, advised the US Fish and Wildlife Service at a session at the 67th annual Northeast Fish & Wildlife Conference taking place this week in Manchester, NH.

Extractions from the Marcellus Shale are one of the emerging environmental contaminants the service feels wildlife managers should be aware of. outlined in a session at the conference by  Margaret Byrne and Meagan Racey. Other emerging issues include nanomaterials, particularly the impact of nanosilver, an antimicrobial material found in consumer products that is already being discharged into waterways through sewer systems,  and the impact of climate change on contanimants already in the environment. For example, at higher termpratures mercury forms methyl mercury, a more potent form of the toxic metal.