Protecting Children from Power Plant Mercury Pollution
Mercury is a dangerous toxin that threatens the brain and nervous systems of unborn and young children.
The largest source of mercury is power plants, and technology is already available to reduce mercury emissions by more than 90 percent.
Fortunately, even though the Bush administration is doing as little as possible to protect us from mercury, Gov. Granholm has decided to reduce mercury pollution in Michigan by 90 percent by 2015.
Dangers of Mercury
Children’s Health: EPA data finds that each year as many as 630,000 children are born at risk of health problems, including impaired memory, vision, motor skills and attention deficits.
Contaminated Fish: The principal way that people are exposed to mercury is by eating fish, an important part of the American diet and Michigan economy. Smokestacks spew mercury pollution into the air, where it rains into our waterways and accumulates up the food chain in fish.
Polluters Resist Mercury Limits
Power Plants Are Responsible: By far the largest source of mercury pollution is power plants. Coal-fired power plants release approximately 2,462 pounds of mercury each year in Michigan alone.
Major Reductions Are Feasible: Technology is available now to dramatically reduce mercury pollution from power plants. EPA’s own scientists have said that current technologies could achieve a 90 percent reduction from power plants.
Action in Michigan
State Protections: To protect Michigan citizens and the Great Lakes, Gov. Granholm fulfilled her campaign promise by demanding that Michigan’s coal-fired power plants reduce mercury emissions by 90 percent by 2015.
Weak Federal Protections: Meanwhile, industry has convinced the Bush administration to ignore the solutions. The administration’s proposed mercury rules would allow as much as six times the amount of mercury to be released.
Now Is The Time To Eliminate Mercury
The governor’s proposed rules to virtually eliminate mercury pollution emissions from power plants are not just possible, they’re absolutely essential.
We need to ensure that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality finalizes the mercury rule as soon as possible without technical or financial loopholes that would allow power plants to escape reductions. In addition, 90 percent by 2015 must be the minimum standard, and the final rule should provide incentives to meet 90 percent reductions sooner.