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Curb harmful emissions to protect our health, US environmentalists urge Health of millions at stake in emissions curb ruling, environmentalists warn
(about 7 hours later)
As the supreme court appeared to be leaning towards forcing the government to count the cost to industry before implementing new laws to curb toxic emissions from US power stations – especially mercury – environmentalists and doctors have warned that the health of millions is at stake.As the supreme court appeared to be leaning towards forcing the government to count the cost to industry before implementing new laws to curb toxic emissions from US power stations – especially mercury – environmentalists and doctors have warned that the health of millions is at stake.
“A fifth of women of child-bearing years have mercury levels in their bodies that we know are not healthy and can cause problems with developing fetuses,” said Dr Catherine Thomasson, the executive director of the national lobbying group Physicians for Social Responsibility. These problems can make children less clever and even cause brain disorders.“A fifth of women of child-bearing years have mercury levels in their bodies that we know are not healthy and can cause problems with developing fetuses,” said Dr Catherine Thomasson, the executive director of the national lobbying group Physicians for Social Responsibility. These problems can make children less clever and even cause brain disorders.
Related: Supreme court on Obama coal pollution rule: 'game over' if costs not assessedRelated: Supreme court on Obama coal pollution rule: 'game over' if costs not assessed
The supreme court heard arguments on Wednesday from several US states and industry bodies trying to block new rules that were agreed in late 2011 and are due to go into effect this year that aim to limit the emission of mercury and other toxins, especially from coal-fired power plants.The supreme court heard arguments on Wednesday from several US states and industry bodies trying to block new rules that were agreed in late 2011 and are due to go into effect this year that aim to limit the emission of mercury and other toxins, especially from coal-fired power plants.
Breathing in mercury from the air and, especially, consuming mercury contained in fish – local freshwater and ocean fish from US waters and sold in supermarkets and restaurants – could involve health risks that many consumers are not even aware of but can be traced to domestic power stations, Thomasson said.Breathing in mercury from the air and, especially, consuming mercury contained in fish – local freshwater and ocean fish from US waters and sold in supermarkets and restaurants – could involve health risks that many consumers are not even aware of but can be traced to domestic power stations, Thomasson said.
“Why should individuals have to monitor and be concerned about levels of mercury in fish, when people generally believe that eating more fish is healthy? It’s not always labeled correctly and it’s hard to know. It’s a travesty,” she said.“Why should individuals have to monitor and be concerned about levels of mercury in fish, when people generally believe that eating more fish is healthy? It’s not always labeled correctly and it’s hard to know. It’s a travesty,” she said.
Thomasson pointed out that autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children can be linked to neurotoxins in the environment, including mercury. And children born without any such disorders can have a lower IQ because of pollutants they ingest as children or that were absorbed by the mother whilst pregnant.Thomasson pointed out that autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children can be linked to neurotoxins in the environment, including mercury. And children born without any such disorders can have a lower IQ because of pollutants they ingest as children or that were absorbed by the mother whilst pregnant.
“If your IQ is 130 and you drop a couple of points it’s not that big of a deal, but if you drop a couple of points from an IQ of 80 then that could be the difference between being of borderline intelligence and being able to hold a job in future,” she said.“If your IQ is 130 and you drop a couple of points it’s not that big of a deal, but if you drop a couple of points from an IQ of 80 then that could be the difference between being of borderline intelligence and being able to hold a job in future,” she said.
Emissions control devices that are already common in many US coal-fired power stations and would need to be fitted nationally under the new EPA regulations will not only keep a lot of mercury out of the environment but reduced “a neurotoxin cocktail of other poisons, too”, including lead, arsenic, sulphur dioxide and soot, said Thomasson.Emissions control devices that are already common in many US coal-fired power stations and would need to be fitted nationally under the new EPA regulations will not only keep a lot of mercury out of the environment but reduced “a neurotoxin cocktail of other poisons, too”, including lead, arsenic, sulphur dioxide and soot, said Thomasson.
Particulate matter in soot causes heart problems and asthma that contribute to the 11,000 premature deaths annually in the US that the EPA estimates would be prevented by the new pollution rules going into effect.Particulate matter in soot causes heart problems and asthma that contribute to the 11,000 premature deaths annually in the US that the EPA estimates would be prevented by the new pollution rules going into effect.
But the most vulnerable members of society are the growing fetus, babies and children, whose brains are developing fast and are most susceptible to toxins affecting the nervous system and in turn impairing the brain as it matures.But the most vulnerable members of society are the growing fetus, babies and children, whose brains are developing fast and are most susceptible to toxins affecting the nervous system and in turn impairing the brain as it matures.
“Excessive mercury in the system blocks the cells that tell the brain which way to grow and it can affect many functions, including motor skills and memory. If your child is very, very bright, could they have been in the genius ranking if they weren’t exposed to Great Lakes fish? It’s hard to know, but people shouldn’t have to worry about those risks,” said Thomasson.“Excessive mercury in the system blocks the cells that tell the brain which way to grow and it can affect many functions, including motor skills and memory. If your child is very, very bright, could they have been in the genius ranking if they weren’t exposed to Great Lakes fish? It’s hard to know, but people shouldn’t have to worry about those risks,” said Thomasson.
Industry and political opponents argue it will cost energy producers almost $10 billion to fit devices to cut mercury out of power plant emissions, with only a fraction of that saved in health costs.Industry and political opponents argue it will cost energy producers almost $10 billion to fit devices to cut mercury out of power plant emissions, with only a fraction of that saved in health costs.
But the EPA argues that potential healthcare savings range from $37bn and $90bn.But the EPA argues that potential healthcare savings range from $37bn and $90bn.
Existing power plants in the US release 48 tons of mercury into the air each year, according to the Isaak Walton League of America, which was one of several groups that battled for the EPA to strengthen the Clean Air Act with a new provision, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in December 2011 – which has been embroiled in legal fights ever since.Existing power plants in the US release 48 tons of mercury into the air each year, according to the Isaak Walton League of America, which was one of several groups that battled for the EPA to strengthen the Clean Air Act with a new provision, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in December 2011 – which has been embroiled in legal fights ever since.
“Take the Ohio River, for example. It’s one of the nation’s largest and most polluted and it contributes most of the flow into the southern Mississippi, with toxins such as mercury from power plants in the water and the fish, affecting Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, all the way out into the Gulf of Mexico, where the shrimpers and fishermen are operating, ” said Mike Leahy, conservation director at the Isaak Walton League of America.“Take the Ohio River, for example. It’s one of the nation’s largest and most polluted and it contributes most of the flow into the southern Mississippi, with toxins such as mercury from power plants in the water and the fish, affecting Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, all the way out into the Gulf of Mexico, where the shrimpers and fishermen are operating, ” said Mike Leahy, conservation director at the Isaak Walton League of America.
Leahy said opponents of the new mercury rules in the Clean Air Act wanted costs to be considered before it was even decided whether to implement the regulations, not how they should work.Leahy said opponents of the new mercury rules in the Clean Air Act wanted costs to be considered before it was even decided whether to implement the regulations, not how they should work.
“Many companies have already fitted pollution control technology so they are being penalized, effectively, for doing the right thing while the laggards are being rewarded,” said Leahy.“Many companies have already fitted pollution control technology so they are being penalized, effectively, for doing the right thing while the laggards are being rewarded,” said Leahy.
About a third of the United States from the Great Lakes to the eastern seaboard is exposed to the heaviest levels of mercury emissions in the air and water, according to pollution charts drawn up by the National Atmospheric Deposition Program.About a third of the United States from the Great Lakes to the eastern seaboard is exposed to the heaviest levels of mercury emissions in the air and water, according to pollution charts drawn up by the National Atmospheric Deposition Program.
The Natural Resources Defense Council issues a ‘Toxic Twenty” states with the highest levels of air pollution caused by power plants.The Natural Resources Defense Council issues a ‘Toxic Twenty” states with the highest levels of air pollution caused by power plants.
Top of the list is Ohio, followed by Pennsylvania, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Georgia and others, grouped mainly in the mid and east of the country.Top of the list is Ohio, followed by Pennsylvania, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Georgia and others, grouped mainly in the mid and east of the country.