Lead and mercury pollution
Optional Resources on Mercury
Online resources
"Mercury and
Compounds," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), September 2000 -- Basic facts
about mercury.
"Alarming
New Data Reveals Dangerous Mercury Levels in Rain Falling Over New England," National
Wildlife Federation, 19 September 2000 -- "The rain falling from the skies over New
England contains levels of mercury that far exceed what the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) considers 'safe' for people, aquatic life, and wildlife in surface
waters."
"Mercury
Pollution Threatens Human Health, Science Panel Confirms; New study gives EPA green light
to regulate power plants," National Wildlife Federation, 11 July 2000 -- The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has concluded
that (1) EPA's daily mercury reference dose is scientifically justified to protect public
health; and (2) people who eat a lot of fish have little or no margin of safety. The NRC
estimates that each year, 60,000 children are born in the U.S. with developmental effects
from exposure to methylmercury in utero.
"EPA's
Methylmercury Guideline Is Scientifically Justifiable For Protecting Most Americans, But
Some May Be at Risk," National Academy of Sciences, news release, 11 July 2000 --
EPA's current reference dose for methylmercury is 0.1 micrograms per kilogram of body
weight per day -- the amount of methylmercury to which an individual can be exposed on a
daily basis without adverse health consequences. Each year about 60,000 children may be
born in the United States with neurological problems that could lead to poor school
performance because of exposure to methylmercury in utero.
"Mercury:
Impacts on Wildlife," National Wildlife Federation, no date
"Mercury:
Where Does It Come From?," National Wildlife Federation, no date.
"FDA Fails
To Warn Public Of Tuna, Swordfish That Is Laced With Mercury," Robert Braile, Boston
Globe, 26 April 2000 (posted at Common Dreams News Center) -- "Some 36 percent of
swordfish, 33 percent of shark, and 4 percent of large tuna samples the FDA tested from
1992 to 1998 exceeded the level at which it is supposed to take action. There has been a
25 percent increase in fish consumption since 1980, much of it in the form of large tuna
sold as steaks or sushi. On average, Americans eat 19 pounds of fish a year, 15 pounds of
which is from the sea."
"Hat
Industry" Chapter from Mercury; a History of Quicksilver, by Leonard J.
Goldwater, 1972, York Press (out of print); posted online by Duke University Occupational
and Environmental Medicine.
"A Tragic Reminder about
Organic Mercury," editorial by Ken Kulig, New England Journal of Medicine, 4
June 1998 (v. 338, n. 23) -- "Toxicologic syndromes caused by mercury, such as
'erythism' (personality changes, including extreme excitability, withdrawal, and loss of
self-control) and acrodynia (painful, erythematous extremities, anorexia, sweating, and
photophobia), are difficult to diagnose, and a toxicologic consultation may be useful when
these syndromes are suspected."
"The Dangers of Mercury in
Fish," Consumer [magazine, New Zealand], September 1998
"The
Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of Mercury Poisoning; The Mad Hatter's Disease Revisited,"
R.E. O'Carroll and others, British Journal of Psychiatry 167(1):95-98 (1995) -- Abstract
of an article concerning a case of inorganic mercury poisoning.
"Measuring Mercury," Mark Wheeler, Environmental Health Perspectives,
August 1996 (v. 104, n. 8), updated 10 July 1997 -- Excellent overview of sources and
effects. Includes sideboxes on "Removing Mercury" and "The Issue of
Amalgams."
"EPA Sees
the Light on Fluorescent Bulbs," Environmental Health Perspectives, December
1999 (v. 107, n. 12) -- Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, an essential compound for
operation that generates ultraviolet rays that react with the bulb's phosphorous coating
to emit fluorescent light. According to the EPA, mercury-containing bulbs account for 3.8%
of all mercury now going to municipal landfills.
"Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Methylmercury Act Synergistically to Reduce Rat Brain
Dopamine Content in Vitro," Jeffrey C. Bemis and Richard F. Seegal, Environmental
Health Perspectives, November 1999 (v. 107, n. 11) -- Examined Great Lakes fish
contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and methylmercury (MeHg)--both of which
are recognized neurotoxicants. The synergism between these contaminants suggests that
future revisions of fish-consumption guidelines should consider contaminant interactions.
"More
Evidence of Mercury Effects in Children," Environmental Health Perspectives,
November 1999 (v. 107, n. 11) -- Prenatal exposure to methylmercury at concentrations
below current exposure limits can cause adverse health effects. And children with
increased prenatal exposure to methylmercury are likely to suffer delays in neurological
development.
"Methylmercury Neurotoxicity in Amazonian Children Downstream from Gold Mining,"
Philippe Grandjean and others, Environmental Health Perspectives, July 1999
(v. 107, n. 7) -- In widespread informal gold mining in the Amazon Basin, mercury is used
to capture the gold particles as amalgam. Releases of mercury to the environment have
resulted in the contamination of freshwater fish with methylmercury. In three Tapaj�s
villages with the highest exposures, more than 80% of 246 children had hair-mercury
concentrations above 10 �g/g, a limit above which adverse effects on brain development
are likely to occur.
"Troubled
Waters: Mercury in Wisconsin's Lakes and Fish," Wisconsin Stewardship Network -- As
of this writing, the DNR’s fish advisory for mercury contamination stands at 321
lakes and river segments and includes many favorite Wisconsin fishing waters. Sediments at
the bottom of northern Wisconsin lakes show a quadrupling of mercury since the late 19th
century, when industry came to our state. High mercury levels in otherwise pristine
lakes of the far north reveal the importance of mercury fallout from the air, similar to
acid rain, which originates with air pollution far upwind. In Wisconsin coal-fired utility
power plants are by far the largest collective source, accounting for about 40 percent of
all mercury air pollution in the state annually.
"A Nightmare Revisited,"
Fred Pearce, New Scientist, 6 February 1999 -- Miners release about 250 tonnes of
mercury into the Amazon region each year, most ending up in rivers. However, Donna Mergler
thinks deforestation is the problem. "The widespread mercury contamination in fish is
from leaching of natural mercury in soils and is released following slash-and-burn
activities," she says. Her team estimates that only 3 per cent of the mercury comes
from gold mining.
"Mercury
Sniffer Dogs Head for Brussels," Reuters News Service, 18 October 1999 -- Sweden's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said two dogs, an Alsatian
and a Labrador, have traced more than three tonnes of the highly toxic metal in the last
five years. It said this had saved 20 million Swedish crowns ($2.47 million) in
clean-up costs.
"Mercury Falling: An Analysis of Mercury Pollution from Coal-Burning Power
Plants," Environmental Working Group (complete report available in Adobe Acrobat
format) -- Coal-burning power plants are the single largest source of mercury pollution,
and the only major source the government does not regulate. This study presents the first
comprehensive assessment of mercury pollution from coal-burning power plants and the first
published estimates of mercury pollution by individual coal-burning power plants across
the United States.
"Mercury Study Report to Congress -- Overview," EPA's Report to Congress on
Mercury, December 1997 -- Summary of an eight volume document. The best point estimate of
annual anthropogenic U.S. emissions of mercury in l994-1995 is 158 tons. Roughly 87
percent of these emissions are from combustion sources, including waste and fossil fuel
combustion.
"Mercury: How Much is Safe," Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly
#587, 7 May 1998 -- Highly recommended
"Mercury Fact
Sheet," U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 20 April 1999
-- Exposure to mercury occurs from breathing contaminated air, ingesting contaminated
water and food, and having dental and medical treatments. Mercury, at high levels, may
damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. This chemical has been found in at least
714 of 1,467 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection
Agency.
Other Resources
"The Mercury Menace; Coal-fired power plants spew mercury but avoid
crackdown," Dieter Bradbury, Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc., 1997 -- The EPA's efforts
to curb the toxic metal have been slowed by industry lobbyists and their allies in
Congress.
Thomas Detwyler maintains this page (tdetwyle@uwsp.edu)
Last updated 13 March 2001
� Copyright 1998-2001 by Thomas Detwyler