They may not be cause for panic, but the findings of the Atlantis Mobile Laboratory about high levels of mercury in newborns and high levels of bacteria in water tanks around the Island should be cause for grave concern.

Bermuda owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Eric DeWailly of the laboratory, the Bermuda Biological Station which hosted it and the project's sponsors and local staff for bringing these issues to light.

They certainly dispel any perceptions that Bermuda is an environmental oasis ? we have the same problems as many other more heavily industrialised countries and in some cases, they may be worse in Bermuda.

Given the Island's dependence on tanks for potable water and the extreme delicacy of the local environment, the report's findings on drinking water are worrying.

It may be that the relatively small sample and the fact that the study took place two months after Hurricane Fabian ? which caused a good deal of spoilage to tanks ? means that the problem as exaggerated, although Dr. DeWailly said follow-up research suggested it was not.

Even if it is true, the report should not be dismissed. What is desperately needed is a confirmation study, perhaps with a larger sample, to see if the findings are the same as they were a year ago.

In the meantime, a public awareness on the importance of regularly cleaning out tanks, painting out roofs and making sure intake pipes are properly screened is essential. This should be done by Government ? to the extent it is not already doing so ? as a matter of urgency.

The second part of the report concerned the high levels of mercury found in newborn babies. These were much higher than the levels considered to be safe and can lead to brain damage and other problems for newborns.

Fortunately, the scientists believe that the cause can be narrowed down to a number of locally caught fish, including wahoo and snapper, which retain high levels of mercury which are then passed on when they are caught and eaten.

All doctors, but especially obstetricians, need to make their patients aware that they should stay well away from them for the term of their pregnancies.

At the same time, international studies show that other fish, some not necessarily caught in local waters, can carry PCBs, dioxins and flame retardants which they can pass on when eaten.

Further studies of these risks, in addition to mercury, are needed in order to reassure people about what fish are safe to eat and which should be avoided, or eaten in small doses.

The irony is that fish can be good for health as well, and a mass panic resulting in numerous species being avoided could do more harm than good. For that reason, public awareness needs to be heightened so that consumers can make healthy choices.