Coal & Mercury

Mercury News

Pennsylvania Passes Plan to cut Mercury Emissions
Associated Press, Nov 17, 2006

A state regulatory board Thursday approved Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to make deeper cuts in mercury emissions from Pennsylvania's coal-fired power plants, despite opposition from power plants and mining companies. More

Study of Songbirds Finds High Levels of Mercury
New York Time, Anthony dePalma, July 2006

A biologist studying wild songbirds in New York State has found that all 178 woodland birds he tested last year had unusually high levels of mercury in their blood and feathers, a sign that the toxic chemical has spread farther in the environment than previously thought. More

Pollution and Environmental Damage

Power plants are the largest uncontrolled source of mercury by far ‚ responsible for approximately 30 percent of the country's emissions. Amazingly, power plants are the only major mercury polluters yet to be regulated under federal clean air standards. (US PIRG)

The coal industry has increased its CO2 output by 20 percent since 1990.

"Women of childbearing age are discouraged from eating more than two to three servings a week of shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tile fish, or albacore "white" tuna." Harvard School of Public Health and a controversial EPA ruling on mercury underestimates the risks, according to the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.
View study. (243 pages. 1Mb)

Mercury, a highly toxic substance that can poison wildlife and cause brain and nervous system damage in children and fetuses, is a difficult issue for several reasons. Also, 40 percent or more of the mercury polluting the US comes from abroad - mainly coal-burning power plants in places like China.

National Campaign Against Dirty Power
Information on mercury

Colorado Department of Health and Environment
Mercury warnings for fish