“Parents in Michigan shouldn’t have to worry that their children’s bodies are toxic dumping grounds,” said Michelle Hesterberg, federal field associate for Environment Michigan.
“The Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward to protect our children’s health from toxic mercury pollution, and we can’t let big polluters stand in the way.“
The report uses just-released 2010 emissions data from EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, which uses self-reported data from power plants and other facilities to track how much of a variety of toxic substances the facilities release into the air.
Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that harms growing children and pollutes our environment.
"Any level of mercury is a problem," said Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club
Michigan Chapter state director. Instead of looking for ways to reduce
output, the BWL should be moving away from fossil-fuel based power
generation completely, she said.
Mercury exposure can lead to irreversible deficits in verbal skills, damage to attention and motor control, and reduced IQ.
Mercury pollution is so widespread that new EPA estimates show one in 10 women of childbearing age has enough mercury in her bloodstream to put her child at risk, should she become pregnant.
Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in Michigan, with 80 percent of all airborne mercury pollution in-state coming from these power plants. They emit mercury into our air, which then falls into our waterways with rain or snow, where it builds up in fish and enters the food chain.
As a result of widespread mercury contamination, every state in the country has issued an advisory warning against the consumption of species of fish that tend to have dangerous levels of mercury.
The entirety of the Great Lakes is under mercury advisory.
“Our health is precious, and mercury from Michigan power plants puts it at risk,” Hesterberg said. “It’s time to protect our health and clean up this dangerous source of pollution.”
The report comes as EPA is poised to finalize a landmark standard to limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants in December. This will be the first time in history that EPA limits toxic mercury pollution from power plants, and once fully implemented, the new standard as proposed would reduce overall power plant emissions of mercury by more than 90 percent.
“EPA’s proposed mercury standard will protect children and families from a known poison,” said Hesterberg. “Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin should stand up for Michigan’s families by supporting EPA’s much-needed standard, and oppose efforts by polluters and their allies in Congress to delay or block EPA’s efforts.”