mercury

As much of the political debate in America remains primarily focused around health care right now, this report serves as a good reminder that health and clean energy reform are clearly linked together:

Physicians for Social Responsibility has released a groundbreaking medical report, “Coal’s Assault on Human Health,” which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body.  Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted by those pollutants on three major body organ systems: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. The report also considers coal’s contribution to global warming, and the health implications of global warming.

http://www.psr.org/resources/coals-assault-on-human-health.html

It's been awhile since we blogged about mercury, but I stumbled across an article today regarding high levels of mercury found in adult New Yorkers.

One-quarter of adult New Yorkers, roughly 1.4 million people, have elevated levels of mercury in their blood, mainly from eating certain fish, according to survey results released yesterday by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

While New York is, of course, not North Carolina, the idea of mercury contamination in fish is the same there as it is here. Coal-fired power plants emit methylmercury which gets sucked into the air and precipitated back down to our waterways, where it weasels its way up the food chain, contaminating the top feeding fish that we love to eat. High mercury levels are known to cause neurological and development problems with fetuses and infants. For more information on mercury and health, visit http://www.p2pays.org/mercury/health.asp.

The article points out that as more people turn to fish for a protein-rich alternative to factory-processed pork and beef, consumers, particularly mothers of young children and women of child-bearing age, will need to be cognizant of the potential dangers of certain fish and shellfish.

Recently, I've been going to events and handing out mercury fish advisories and additional information on how mercury (mainly from coal-fired power plants) is contaminating our waterways and our fish. I've noticed that as people approach our table and scan the fish advisory, one of two things happens: either they are glad to see us giving out information on the issue since it is also of concern to them, or they are shocked and disturbed to learn of the high levels of mercury found in fish in North Carolina. The latter reaction, while fruitful in discerning that the advisories are starting to hit home, always disturbs me a bit--while I do want the mercury information to impact the people visiting our table, I don't want to actually scare them, nor do I want them to perceive I am trying to scare them. I just want to jolt them into action and understanding...there is a difference after all.

Other organizations often accuse environmentalists of using scare tactics to push our agenda. But at what point does stating facts and alerting citizens become a "scare tactic?" How can we as environmentalists provide important, science-based, yet often hard-to-hear information without being seen as "fish scammers," for instance? Do ordinary citizens believe we want to scare everyone or is that just a view held up by anti-environmentalists?

WRAL’s newest Focal Point documentary focuses on mercury pollution in NC, a timely topic as the NC Utilities Commission held hearings this week on Duke Energy’s proposed expansion at their Cliffside Coal Power Plant.  The 30 minute show, “Mercury Falling”, takes an in depth look at mercury in fish in NC, how coal-fired power plants contribute to mercury contamination, and what is being done about it. 

The show includes an interview with Dr. David Moreau, Chair of the NC Environmental Management Commission, which is about to finalize rules to control mercury emissions from coal plants – rules environmentalists consider too weak.  John Suttles, Southern Environmental Law Center is also interviewed, along with Martha Keating, a former EPA scientist, and Dr. Debbie Leiner, a pediatrician, both of whom also support strong mercury controls.  The show presents a balanced view and also interviews the power companies and several fishing groups.  My favorite quote was from Sean McKeon, NC Fisheries Association:  “I think the solution really is at this point to eat more fish, not less.”

“Mercury Falling” will air at 8:30 pm on Sept. 2 on WMYT-TV in Charlotte.  You can also watch it online through the WRAL Focal Point website.   Since it is a commercial station, there are a couple of advertisements to get through, including a bizzare rap ad for Pepto Bismal. 

If you watch the show, let us know what you thought of it.

As you might have heard, we've been fighting for strong mercury protections for a number of months now.  This week we got some good news -- coal-fired power plants in other states are starting to realize the need for mercury cuts.

Ameren, one of Illinois' biggest coal utilities, has agreed to reduce their mercury emissions by 90% before the year 2015.  From the Chicago Tribune:

 "This is a major breakthrough for clean air in Illinois," said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, who has been involved in the discussions. "Ameren has decided to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Now it's time for the other utilities to step up."

I agree.  When will North Carolina's utilities step up?

By now you've probably figured out that we are big fans of strong mercury protections for North Carolina.  And you've heard the reasons: mercury is a powerful neurotoxin and it's found in too many North Carolina fish -- and in too many women.

But a point of view piece from pediatrician Kathy Shea gives us one more staggering statistic to back our case for strong protections:

There are around 120,000 babies born each year in the state. If exposure to methylmercury here is similar to the national exposure levels documented by the Centers for Disease Control in 2003, that means that somewhere between 9,000 and 19,000 babies each year are exposed in utero to mercury levels high enough to cause damage to the developing brain.

This exposure can cause "IQ loss, memory and attention problems, fine motor deficits and developmental delay."  Wow.

Dr. Shea concludes:

To me this is an obvious choice. We should apply the maximum available control technology to all coal-burning power plants as quickly as possible. Estimated costs to consumers are about $4-$10 per year. That seems like a small price to pay for the peace of mind of knowing that we in North Carolina are doing the most we can do to protect our most vulnerable and precious citizens.

Well said.  Let's just hope that the state hears her.

From the Charlotte Observer:

A parade of young mothers, doctors and environmentalists on Thursday urged the state's top environmental board to sharply rein in power plant emissions of mercury, a toxic metal that can impair babies.

Utilities say they're lowering emissions but can't promise the 90 percent reductions environmental groups demand.

The hearing, part of a series around the state, brought to Charlotte a debate once centered on the coastal plain, where mercury-contaminated fish are most commonly found. Mercury from industrial smokestacks falls to earth, often accumulating in fish.

Will you join us for hearings on reducing mercury in  Raleigh (6/1) or Winterville (6/8)?

We're back from Clean Water Lobby Day -- tired but happy.  The day was great, with more than 150 people coming from across the state to tell their legislators to protect North Carolina's waters.

By the end of the day, we'd met with 23 out of 50 Senators and 56 out of 120 Representatives (and left information for all of them) to let them know about our two main concerns: the safety of our drinking water wells and mercury pollution in our waters. 

Thanks to everyone who came out, emailed, or made a donation to help make this day such a success!

An interesting editorial cartoon on mercury contamination in fish to make you all smile...er, cringe...

You may have already heard that, according to a UNC Asheville study, "One in five N.C. women of child-bearing age who were tested carry potentially unsafe levels of mercury in their bodies." The women tested had mercury levels that were above the EPA's threshold of safety for pregnant women, though none of the women were at serious risk.

Do you know how much mercury you and your family members are consuming?  You can check out the amount of mercury that may be in your diet with the Mercury Calculator. Based on FDA estimates of average levels of mercury in different types of fish, the calculator estimates levels of mercury you may be exposed to. All you have is enter your weight, the type of seafood, and the amount of seafood you eat during a week.

Do you know where the mercury is coming from in North Carolina and in surrounding states?  The largest sources of mercury in North Carolina are coal-fired power plants. The Natural Resources Defense Council has compiled EPA data concerning state fish advisories and data related to mercury sources nationwide. They've created an interactive map that allows you to see the sources of mercury across the US and in North Carolina. Find out if there are any mercury polluters near you with the NRDC Mercury Contamination Map.