Toxic Mercury Article
Excerpts From The Article
As many as 600,000 babies may be born in the U.S. each year with irreversible brain damage because pregnant mothers ate mercury-contaminated fish, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Medical researchers are just beginning to explore the effect of mercury exposure on adults that leaves some in a disorienting "fish fog."
Nationwide, more than 8,000 lakes, rivers and bays are compromised by mercury's toxic effects.
Where is all the mercury coming from, and can something be done to stop it?
A partial answer can be found in the nearly 500 coal-burning power plants that supply about half the nation's electricity. The $298 billion electric utility industry is the nation's largest source of mercury air emissions and the latest target of federal and state clean air regulations.
The EPA's new Clean Air Mercury Rule, effective in 2010, gives energy companies until 2018 to cut mercury emissions to an industrywide 15 tons.
Mercury also has been removed from products such as thermometers and paint, batteries and toys. Most childhood vaccines no longer contain thimerosal, a preservative containing mercury. Many dentists have discontinued the use of metal amalgams to fill cavities
Test kits
http://www.heavymetalstest.com/mercurytest.php - for house
http://www.sierraclub.org/mercury/get_tested/ - for body
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/get-tested-for-mercury-contami - for body
As many as 600,000 babies may be born in the U.S. each year with irreversible brain damage because pregnant mothers ate mercury-contaminated fish, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Medical researchers are just beginning to explore the effect of mercury exposure on adults that leaves some in a disorienting "fish fog."
Nationwide, more than 8,000 lakes, rivers and bays are compromised by mercury's toxic effects.
Where is all the mercury coming from, and can something be done to stop it?
A partial answer can be found in the nearly 500 coal-burning power plants that supply about half the nation's electricity. The $298 billion electric utility industry is the nation's largest source of mercury air emissions and the latest target of federal and state clean air regulations.
The EPA's new Clean Air Mercury Rule, effective in 2010, gives energy companies until 2018 to cut mercury emissions to an industrywide 15 tons.
Mercury also has been removed from products such as thermometers and paint, batteries and toys. Most childhood vaccines no longer contain thimerosal, a preservative containing mercury. Many dentists have discontinued the use of metal amalgams to fill cavities
Test kits
http://www.heavymetalstest.com/mercurytest.php - for house
http://www.sierraclub.org/mercury/get_tested/ - for body
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/get-tested-for-mercury-contami - for body
Labels: article, epa, mercury, mercury poisoning
posted by Leslie at
5:57 PM
2 Comments:
Another major producer of mercury emissions is chlorine plants. Chlorine plants have been using mercury in their production for well over 100 years in the United States. Much of this mercury escapes through “fugitive emissions” – and then on top of that, many chlorine plants have unaccounted for mercury losses that make their way into the environment.
However, there is a solution. Newer membrane cell technology eliminates the need for mercury use in chlorine plants. Already 90% of the industry uses this technology, and there are ongoing campaigns to make chlorine production completely mercury-free. To learn more about this campaign check out the
Oceana website.
By
Mel, At
November 12, 2007 at 9:53 AM
1F2F,
Thanks for the comment!
I know that many say our mercury is also coming from China - in trade winds.
I'm not saying some doesn't travel that way, but am wholly unsure we should put that substantial amount of blame on them. It's a very easy way to absolve this nation of its own culpability and need for reform.
My community has a coal fired power plant which is the leading contributor of mercury in our part of the Susquehanna River. We can't eat the fish, sad to say.
Thanks again!
L
By
Leslie, At
November 12, 2007 at 11:06 AM
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