Tag Archives: Mercury

Toxic air pollutants from power plants—mercury, lead, arsenic, and others—are linked to health problems such as cancer, heart disease, neurological damage, birth defects, asthma attacks, and even premature death. Mercury, for example, is a potent neurotoxin that poses a threat to fetal and infant brain development. And coal plants are far and away the greatest source of mercury air emissions in the United States.

Shockingly, there are currently no national limits on the amount of mercury and other toxic pollutants that power plants can spew into the environment. This gap in our public health protections is all the more disturbing since the Clean Air Act required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to start regulating toxic pollutants more than two decades ago. Thankfully, in mid-March, the agency finally proposed a mercury and air toxics rule, which will limit hazardous air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants.

Even though the new standards are affordable and would deliver enormous health benefits, some energy companies and their allies in Congress are already working to block or weaken them.

The EPA is now accepting comments on its proposed mercury and air toxics rule. The agency needs to hear from concerned citizens like you, who want a strong rule that protects the public from these dangerous pollutants.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,

Kate Abend

National Field Organizer

UCS Climate and Energy Program

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Take a Stand against Polluters

05/25/2011 Nativegrl77

True or false: The coal industry has been pumping toxic air pollution, virtually unchecked, into our atmosphere for decades — pollution that has been linked to cancer and countless other health issues.

This is true, but if a new standard proposed by the EPA becomes a reality, it won’t be for much longer. The rule will significantly reduce the amount of mercury and other toxins that coal-fired power plants release into the air.

Making this rule the law of the land won’t be easy. We’ll face strong opposition from the same forces that stand in the way of solving the climate crisis. That’s why we need your help.

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8e2e/6fdeebac/1a2b6a55/19ba7529/557510131/VEsE/

Tell the EPA that you support this rule. Take a stand against big polluters by submitting a comment here.

Mercury can cause birth defects, neurological damage and countless other health problems. Some of the pollutants that this rule restricts have been linked to cancer, heart disease, asthma and bronchitis.

While industry might complain about the cost of the rule, annual compliance costs are estimated to be far less than what we pay now to address the health impacts of mercury and other pollution.

Use our simple tool to submit a comment to the EPA today.

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8e2e/6fdeebac/1a2b6a55/19ba7529/557510131/VEsE/

Thanks,

Kevin S. Curtis

Program Director

Repower America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell the EPA: Help save 17,000 lives

05/19/2011 Nativegrl77

Last week, I sent you an email quiz that highlights the dangers of mercury pollution. Now we have an opportunity to protect our health and our environment from the mercury pollution that comes from burning coal — but we need your help.

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule that would significantly reduce mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants. Exposure to mercury can cause birth defects, neurological damage and countless other health and environmental problems.

Tell the EPA that you support this rule. Demand cleaner air by submitting a comment here.

The rule also limits the release of sulfur dioxide gases, particulate matter such as soot, and other toxic metals — pollution that has been linked to cancer, heart disease, asthma and bronchitis. In fact, implementing the proposed standards will help prevent 17,000 deaths and 12,000 hospital visits each year.

We’ve allowed coal-fired power plants to spew mercury pollution into our air unchecked for far too long. It’s time to take back our air and our health from the big polluters who poison it every day.

Stand up for your lungs, your health and our shared future. Show your support for the proposed rule with our simple tool and submit a comment to the EPA.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Maggie L. Fox

President and CEO

The Alliance for Climate Protection