Mercury Legislation Rising in 24 US States

Mercury Legislation Rising in 24 States as Pollution Exposure Concerns Grow, Say Advocates

E-Wire Press Release - For Immediate Release

11th March 2003

Montpelier, VT - Over 65 mercury bills have been introduced in 24 states so far in 2003 to reduce pollution and human exposure risks to mercury, according to a watchdog group.

"Mercury legislation is rising throughout the U.S.," said Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project. "In the past few years, mercury laws have passed in over 15 states. We expect to see more laws adopted this year than in the previous two combined."

Thermometers, lamps, computers, automobiles and dental mercury-related legislation top the list this year, with around 10 bills introduced on each. These bills would either ban mercury use, prohibit municipal disposal--or require other pollution prevention measures.

"Mercury pollution is preventable since alternatives exist for most uses," said Bender. "Legislators increasingly recognize that there's no need to continue exposing people to this dangerous toxin in their homes, businesses, hospitals or industrial processes."

Eight state bills would ban sales of mercury thermometers--as 10 states have already done. Bills in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts would seek to reduce auto mercury pollution--like a new Maine law--by requiring car makers to pay for mercury switch collections. Maine and Oregon have also adopted laws banning sales of mercury thermostats after 2005. Similar bills have been proposed in Washington and other states.

Several states are also considering comprehensive mercury legislation requiring manufacturer "take back" programs, product bans, labeling, disposal bans, and mercury phase outs. Comprehensive mercury legislation has already passed in whole--or in part--in Maine, Vermont, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Mercury is released into the atmosphere from waste disposal, coal-fired power plants and industrial processes. Mercury works its way up the food chain from polluted air or waste into water. Exposure to mercury can cause brain and nerve damage resulting in impaired coordination, blurred vision, tremors, irritability and memory loss, behavioral problems and loss of intelligence, and cardiovascular disease.

New findings indicate that low levels of mercury exposure may cause damage to unborn babies and young children. New Centers for Disease Control data indicates that 8 percent of women of childbearing age have mercury levels above those considered safe, translating into more than 300,000 children born each year in the U.S. at risk. FDA and 44 states have issued fish consumption advisories for mercury.

For more information, see the mercury section of http://www.newmoa.org and also http://www.mercurypolicy.org/new/documents/StatusofStateandFedProductLeg03.pdf.