protecting ourselves from mercury created by: mercury-free minnesota be safe mn preventing harm mn
TRANSCRIPT
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Protecting Ourselves from Mercury
Created by:Mercury-Free Minnesotawww.mercuryfreeminnesota.org
BE SAFE MNwww.besafenet.com
Preventing Harm MNwww.preventingharmminnesota.org
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What is Mercury?• Known as
quicksilver• A naturally occurring
element in oceans, rocks & soils
• Liquid at room temperature
• Used in a variety of products
• Toxic & persistent in the environment
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What are the sources of Mercury pollution in MN?
• Energy 51%• Taconite processing
21%• Purposeful use 28%
– Municipal solid waste combustion 5%
– Volatilization of disposed products 7%
– Smelters that recycle cars, appliances 5%
•Coal fired Power plants 46%
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Trends in Minnesota Mercury Emissions1990-2000
Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency March 2004
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
1990 1995 2000YEAR
Purposeful use
Material Processing
Energy
Pounds
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Mercury Products
• Fluorescent & high intensity discharge lamps• Thermostats & switches• Thermometers• Steam irons with 15-minute automatic shut-off • Dental amalgam• Old alkaline batteries, some button batteries• Old latex paints (pre 1990) & some oil based
paints
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Number one source of mercury exposure for humans is fish
consumption.
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Bioaccumulation
• Mercury is deposited in lakes where bacteria convert it to toxic methylmercury (MeHg)
• MeHg is taken up by tiny animals and plankton
• MeHg then accumulates in the tissues of fish and other organisms
• Wildlife like eagles, osprey, loons, turtles, mink, otters and other fish-eaters are also affected
• All Minnesota waters contaminated.
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Who is at the top of the food chain?Who is at the top of the food chain?
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Problem with Methylmercury
• Potent neurotoxin.
• Like lead, mercury effects are being detected at lower and lower levels.
• MeHg passes through the placenta to the developing fetus and is also passed on to nursing infants in breast milk.(Breastfeeding is still best for babies.)
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Newborns at Risk Per new EPA estimates:Per new EPA estimates:• 1 in 6 U.S. women has
mercury body burden that could put her baby at risk for adverse effects on development
• could affect an estimated 630,000 newborns a year
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Fish are Healthy
• Source of protein, vitamin D & omega-3 fatty acids
• Essential for fetal and infant brain development
• Contribute to heart and mental health
Don’t stop eating fish!Don’t stop eating fish!
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What can we do?
BE SAFE-Heed Early Warnings
-Put Safety First -Choose the Safest Solutions
-Exercise Democracy
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Heed Early Warning Signs
• Testing by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shows that mercury is present in 100% of lakes and fish tested.
• Mercury is a known neurotoxin and rates of children with learning disabilities are on the rise.
• There should be more public awareness about the risks of eating certain fish and more efforts to eliminate the contamination.
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Put Safety First• “Public health policy that asks expectant
mothers to give up certain foods while allowing industries to continue contaminating them is absurd.”
Sandra Steingraber – “Having Faith:
An Ecologists Journey to Motherhood”
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Choose the Safest Solutions
• Clean Energy
• Mercury Free Products
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Smart Fish Choices• Follow these guidelines:
– Eat smaller fish, panfish
rather than predator fish– Consider total fish consumption– Limit intake of some fish for
pregnant/nursing women and young children.
– Trimming fat and cooking will not reduce mercury in fish.
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What about canned tuna?• Canned “white albacore” has 3-4 times
more mercury than “chunk light”• Women of childbearing age can eat 8
oz a week of canned “chunk light”• Younger children can eat about ½ can
of chunk light tuna per week.• Women of childbearing age kids under
15 should limit canned “white albacore” tuna to once a month
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IATP’s Smart Fish Calculator
• Tool to estimate “safe” consumption level per EPA guidelines
• Go to www.iatp.org/foodandhealth
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Reduce your Use
• Conserve energy to reduce electricity demand• Replace mercury thermometers with digital
ones• Purchase mercury-free thermostats, switches• Use mercury free batteries• Ask your dentist for non-mercury amalgams• Dispose of all mercury products as hazardous
waste, find information for your county at www.moea.state.mn.us/hhw/programs.cfm
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Buy Wind Power
• Replace fossil-fuel based energy with renewable sources like solar & wind
• Support renewable energy by choosing wind power from your local utility
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Exercise Democracy
• Tell the MN Pollution Control Agency to protect us from mercury.
• Tell the FDA to issue adequate mercury warnings.
• Vote!
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Federal Laws and Regulations on Mercury Pollution
• Current administration proposals delay significant mercury reductions for 10 years.– Clean Air Act - 90% reduction by 2008– Clear Skies Initiative - 69% reduction by
2018• Proposed MACT rules for coal plants align
with Clear Skies and allow 7X Hg pollution of Clean Air Act
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Support Local Initiatives
www.mercuryfreemn.org
www.besafenet.com
www.preventingharmminnesota.org
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We must prevent mercury pollutionWe must prevent mercury pollution
to protect our children!to protect our children!