Protecting Ourselves from Mercury

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Protecting Ourselves from Mercury

• Created byMercury-Free Minnesotawww.mercuryfree
  minnesota.orgBE SAFE MNwww.besafenet.comPrevent
  ing Harm MN
• www.preventingharmminnesota.org

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What is Mercury?

• Known as quicksilver
• A naturally occurring element in oceans, rocks
  soils
• Liquid at room temperature
• Used in a variety of products
• Toxic persistent in the environment

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What are the sources of Mercury pollution in MN?

• Energy 51
• Taconite processing 21
• Purposeful use 28
• Municipal solid waste combustion 5
• Volatilization of disposed products 7
• Smelters that recycle cars, appliances 5

• Coal fired Power plants 46

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Trends in Minnesota Mercury Emissions1990-2000
12,000
10,000
8,000
Pounds
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
1990
1995
2000
YEAR
Source Minnesota Pollution Control Agency March
2004
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Mercury Products

• Fluorescent high intensity discharge lamps
• Thermostats switches
• Thermometers
• Steam irons with 15-minute automatic shut-off
• Dental amalgam
• Old alkaline batteries, some button batteries
• Old latex paints (pre 1990) some oil based
  paints

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Number one source of mercury exposure for humans
is fish consumption.
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Bioaccumulation

• Mercury is deposited in lakes where bacteria
  convert it to toxic methylmercury (MeHg)
• MeHg is taken up by tiny animals and plankton
• MeHg then accumulates in the tissues of fish and
  other organisms
• Wildlife like eagles, osprey, loons, turtles,
  mink, otters and other fish-eaters are also
  affected
• All Minnesota waters contaminated.

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Who is at the top of the food chain?
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Problem with Methylmercury

• Potent neurotoxin.
• Like lead, mercury effects are being detected at
  lower and lower levels.
• MeHg passes through the placenta to the
  developing fetus and is also passed on to nursing
  infants in breast milk.(Breastfeeding is still
  best for babies.)

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Newborns at Risk

• Per new EPA estimates
• 1 in 6 U.S. women has mercury body burden that
  could put her baby at risk for adverse effects on
  development
• could affect an estimated 630,000 newborns a year

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Fish are Healthy

• Source of protein, vitamin D omega-3 fatty
  acids
• Essential for fetal and infant brain development
• Contribute to heart and mental health

Dont stop eating fish!
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What can we do?BE SAFE-Heed Early
Warnings-Put Safety First -Choose the Safest
Solutions -Exercise Democracy
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Heed Early Warning Signs

• Testing by the Minnesota Department of Natural
  Resources shows that mercury is present in 100
  of lakes and fish tested.
• Mercury is a known neurotoxin and rates of
  children with learning disabilities are on the
  rise.
• There should be more public awareness about the
  risks of eating certain fish and more efforts to
  eliminate the contamination.

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Put Safety First

• Public health policy that asks expectant mothers
  to give up certain foods while allowing
  industries to continue contaminating them is
  absurd. Sandra Steingraber
  Having Faith
  An Ecologists Journey to Motherhood

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Choose the Safest Solutions

• Clean Energy
• Mercury Free Products

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Smart Fish Choices

• Follow these guidelines
• Eat smaller fish, panfish
• rather than predator fish
• Consider total fish consumption
• Limit intake of some fish for pregnant/nursing
  women and young children.
• Trimming fat and cooking will not reduce mercury
  in fish.

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What about canned tuna?

• Canned white albacore has 3-4 times more
  mercury than chunk light
• Women of childbearing age can eat 8 oz a week of
  canned chunk light
• Younger children can eat about ½ can of chunk
  light tuna per week.
• Women of childbearing age kids under 15 should
  limit canned white albacore tuna to once a
  month

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IATPs Smart Fish Calculator

• Tool to estimate safe consumption level per EPA
  guidelines
• Go to www.iatp.org/foodandhealth

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Reduce your Use

• Conserve energy to reduce electricity demand
• Replace mercury thermometers with digital ones
• Purchase mercury-free thermostats, switches
• Use mercury free batteries
• Ask your dentist for non-mercury amalgams
• Dispose of all mercury products as hazardous
  waste, find information for your county at
  www.moea.state.mn.us/hhw/programs.cfm

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Buy Wind Power

• Replace fossil-fuel based energy with renewable
  sources like solar wind
• Support renewable energy by choosing wind power
  from your local utility

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Exercise Democracy

• Tell the MN Pollution Control Agency to protect
  us from mercury.
• Tell the FDA to issue adequate mercury warnings.
• Vote!

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Federal Laws and Regulations on Mercury Pollution

• Current administration proposals delay
  significant mercury reductions for 10 years.
• Clean Air Act - 90 reduction by 2008
• Clear Skies Initiative - 69 reduction by 2018
• Proposed MACT rules for coal plants align with
  Clear Skies and allow 7X Hg pollution of Clean
  Air Act

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Support Local Initiatives
www.mercuryfreemn.org www.besafenet.com www.p
reventingharmminnesota.org
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We must prevent mercury pollution to protect our
children!