Interim Results of Mercury Hair Sampling Project Highlight Negative Impact of Dirty Power

EPA's limit of 1 microgram of mercury per gram of hair was exceeded in 21 percent (126 out of 597) of women of childbearing age tested.

Play video about mercury contamination and our study.

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."

• View cover letter to the report.
• View the EQI report.
• View accompanying data tables by State and Metropolitan Statistical Area.

What You Can Do

Get tested. Purchase a test kit online.

Get infomed. View our fish consumption advisory.

Find Out More

• Read a factsheet on our National Mercury Testing Program. (fact sheet in Spanish)
• You can estimate your mercury level using the quick calculator at www.gotmercury.org. A project of Turtle Island Restoration Network, the site also contains detailed information on mercury pollution, sustainable fishing practices, and fish consumption recommendations.
• Links for more information.