Mercury -- Not Just In Old Thermometers Anymore

I pulled this from the latest Conservation Law Foundation newsletter. It highlights the politics behind protecting the environment and public health and the need to NOT take baby steps.

New Hampshire Legislature Allows More Mercury Pollution
CLF Demands Protections for Public Health and Water Bodies

In a blow to public health and New Hampshire's air quality, the New Hampshire House of Representatives killed a bill passed last year by the Senate that would have required reductions in mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants by approximately 50 percent by 2009 and 80 percent by 2013. Instead, the House has taken up a new bill -- negotiated with PSNH -- that does not require interim mercury reductions, with no reductions required before 2013. Instead, this bill calls for sulfur dioxide emissions reductions through a well-known technology that will also reduce mercury emissions.Though supporting lawmakers' efforts to reduce dangerous mercury pollution, CLF is urging New Hampshire to pursue bolder action by setting more stringent mercury reduction targets and tightening deadlines for implementation. The new proposal would allow substantially more mercury to be released into the environment over a longer period of time, and would allow inter-pollutant trading of mercury credits for sulfur dioxide credits. CLF is also calling for a careful analysis of the economic benefits of installing pollution controls as soon as possiblefor rate payers. Based on CLF's preliminary analysis, New Hampshire rate payers would save significantly if sulfur emission controls are installed by 2009-2010. These economic savings must be considered along with the public health and environmental benefits from reducing mercury and sulfur dioxide emissions. New Hampshire lakes have some of the highest levels of mercury in the nation. Mercury pollution contaminates water bodies and builds up in organisms, working its way up the food chain as humans consume the fish living in polluted water bodies. Aneurotoxin, mercury is especially dangerous for developing fetuses and young children. Even low levels of mercury exposurecan lead to neurological damage in children -- including effectson motor skills, learning capacity and memory.
Read more about mercury pollution at:http://ga0.org/ct/odqvh691emPK/