Mercury Contamination Issue Rising
by Chester Sansbury
sansbury@infionline.net
If you've been paying attention to the news lately, you may have noticed that the issue of mercury in fish, especially tuna, and emissions of mercury from coal burning power plants has received increased public attention. This attention is due mainly to the Bush Administration's proposals (described in its Utility Mercury Reductions proposal, December 15, 2003, see
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/index.html) not to use Clean Air Act authority to require mercury emissions reductions in the next few years but instead postpone removal of mercury from power plants through implementation of either a "Clear skies" cap and trade alternative which EPA estimates will reduce 48 tons of mercury emissions by the year 2018 or a required 14 tons emissions reduction by the year 2007. Many people think the cap and trade approach while successful for acid rain will not be effective for mercury and have also challenged the 48 ton emissions reduction estimate as too high. It has also been argued that EPA cost estimates for reducing mercury emissions, which appears to be the main reason Bush has proposed going slower on emissions controls (utility company lobbyists have spent millions on this issue) are much too high and will cost only 1/4 to 1/8 as much. Both of the proposed alternatives will result in slower reduction in mercury emissions and a reduction in efforts to protect public health under existing Federal law. In the long run this will be more costly to human health. EPA will be accepting comments on the proposed rules for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
As mercury is emitted from power plants, it can fall from the air, accumulate in soil, enter surface waters, and accumulate in river sediments. According to some reports, human activities have caused mercury in our environment to increase as much as five fold in the past century. After entering natural waters under the right environmental conditions bacteria can cause chemical changes in mercury which transforms it into a toxic form named methylmercury. Fish absorb methylmercury from water as they feed and can accumulate high concentrations in their tissues.
According to the National Institutes of Health, "Elemental (metallic) mercury and its compounds are toxic and exposure to excessive levels can permanently damage or fatally injure the brain and kidneys. Elemental mercury can also be absorbed through the skin and cause allergic reactions. Ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds can also cause severe renal and gastrointestinal toxicity. Organic compounds of mercury such as methylmercury are considered the most toxic forms of the element. Exposures to very small amounts of these compounds can result in devastating neurological damage and even death. For fetuses, infants and children, the primary adverse health effects of mercury are on neurological development. Even low levels of mercury exposure such as can as result from mother's consumption of methylmercury in dietary sources can adversely affect the brain and nervous system. Impacts on memory, attention, language and other skills have been found in children exposed to moderate levels in the womb." According to some reports approximately 8% of young women have unsafe mercury levels in their bodies. The National Research Council has estimated that as many as 60,000 babies born each year risk neurological development risks from mercury in their diets.
Contrary to what some in EPA have been saying, recent scientific reports support the conclusion that hot- spots for mercury contamination do occur and that global or nationwide reductions in coal fired power plant mercury emissions may not reduce these hotspots. South Carolina is one of 10 States listed as having mercury hotspots, so it is unlikely that a cap and trade program envisioned by EPA will solve South Carolina's problem soon. It may make it worse, especially in light of recent requests for DHEC to improve expansion of coal fired power plant emissions in coastal plains areas around the Edisto and Santee Rivers.
In light of the facts showing contamination of SC fish with mercury (see DHEC Fish Consumption Advisory), the risks of consuming commercial food products contaminated with mercury, increased use of coal by power plants in SC, and the increased potential for additional contamination of our land and waters from such power plants, it would be irresponsible if DHEC did not require construction and operation of the best available control technology for removal of mercury emissions from new and existing facilities in SC. Mercury emissions pose an unreasonable risk of harm to public health and degradation of environmental resources. Several other states have acknowledged the serious risks and are acting aggressively to regulate mercury emissions, and SC, through DHEC, should do the same. An upcoming DHEC public hearing concerning a permit for the Canadys Station, a coal fired SCE&G power plant on the Edisto River, scheduled for January 15, 7:00 pm in Walterboro at Colleton County High School, will be an excellent opportunity for citizens to express their concerns and encourage DHEC to control mercury contamination more aggressively and effectively. Meanwhile, contamination in canned tuna has become a more serious public concern. According to reports from the "Mercury Policy Project, MPP" (www.mercurypolicy.org) parents are unknowingly exposing their children to harm from mercury. Their studies showed what they claim the FDA has known for years, that canned tuna is contaminated with mercury and consumption should be limited, and that white albacore has the highest level of mercury and is unsafe. FDA scientists evidently have admitted that many mothers are unaware of the health risks associated with eating canned tuna. According to MPP, 11 states have now issued advisories warning pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of childbearing age, and children to limit consumption of tuna, especially white albacore tuna. SC should pursue requiring warning labels on mercury contaminated product. Personally, I advised my pregnant daughter several months ago to stop eating canned tuna altogether, because of the uncertainties associated with mercury contamination.