Media release - October 20, 2004
Interim results of Greenpeace’s Mercury Hair Sampling Project were released today by the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. The survey found mercury levels exceeding the EPA’s recommended limit of 1 microgram of mercury per gram of hair in 21 percent (126 out of 597) of women of childbearing age tested.
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.