You Are Here:
So far, hair tests have been analyzed for 1,449 people of all ages around the country. Mercury contamination is a particular concern for women of childbearing years (16 to 49 years old) because mercury exposure in the womb can cause neurological damage and other health problems in children. The EPA has not established mercury exposure health standards for older children, men, or women older than 49.
"I have an obligation to protect the health of my children as well as my own health," said Leila Varella, a 29-year-old mother from Philadelphia who got herself and her 6-year-old son tested. "Knowledge is power and getting tested is a first step toward protecting my family and community from mercury pollution. “
Coal burning power plants are the nation’s biggest mercury polluter, releasing 41 percent of the country’s industrial mercury pollution. Mercury from these dirty power plants and other sources falls into lakes, streams and oceans, concentrating in fish and shellfish, which are then consumed by people.
“In the samples we analyzed, the greatest single factor influencing mercury exposure was the frequency of fish consumption,” said Dr. Richard Maas, Co-director of EQI and author of the report. “We saw a direct relationship between people’s mercury levels and the amount of store-bought fish, canned tuna fish or locally caught fish people consumed.”
“People should not have to stop eating fish because they’re afraid they’ll get poisoned by mercury,” said Greenpeace Energy Campaigner Casey Harrell. “We need a President who will cut mercury pollution and move us away from dirty fossil fuels by investing in clean, renewable energy.“
Greenpeace started the Mercury Hair Sampling Project as a response to President Bush’s failure to clean up power plant mercury pollution. Switching from coal and oil to wind and solar energy would reduce pollution and its negative health impacts, help solve global warming and create jobs.
EQI will continue testing into 2005 and issue the final report in the spring.