Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
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National |
 | Clean Air |
| Energy |
| Population |
| Wildlands |
What is Mercury?
Mercury is a toxic element that pollutes our lakes and streams, including those here in Illinois.
Where Does Mercury Come From?
The single, largest source of mercury pollution; not only in Illinois, but the United States, is from coal burning power plants. Other sources of mercury include cement kilns, waste incinerators, salvage yards and chloralkali plants. Mercury is also contained in household products like thermometers, thermostats, switches, fluorescent light bulbs, and some electronic products.
How Can Mercury Hurt You?
Power plants burning coal release mercury into the air. This mercury then returns to the earth via rain or snow where it ends up in our lakes and streams. Mercury primarily hurts people when they eat contaminated fish. All lakes and streams in Illinois have mercury fish warnings. Illinois Fish Advisory. Mercury interferes with the central nervous system and can cause permanent brain damage. Children and fetuses are at greatest risk of harm and may suffer from a variety of developmental disabilities. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one in six women of childbearing age have high enough levels of mercury in their blood to endanger a developing fetus. This equates to thousands of at-risk babies born to families in Illinois each year!
Mercury primarily hurts people when they eat contaminated fish.
The single, largest source of mercury in Illinois is from coal-burning power plants.
Different advisories apply to locations throughout the Shawnee region:
Other Links:
Mercury Q&A For Teachers, Parents and Students
Last Updated: 09/09/2004
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