1 in 4 Chicago-Area Women of Childbearing Age Tested Exceed Federal Mercury Limit

The results of the nation's largest mercury hair-sampling project were released today by the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. The survey found mercury levels exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit in one in five women of childbearing age tested across the country, but a higher rate (one in four) of contamination among Chicago-area women of childbearing age who participated in the survey.

As part of the national study, Sierra Club offered free mercury hair tests at Chicago-area salons in September and October of 2005. 104 Chicago-area residents participated in the testing events held in Highland Park, Warrenville, Willowbrook, Joliet, and in the Ravenswood, Bucktown, and Pilsen neighborhoods in Chicago. 53 were women of childbearing age, and 24.5%, or 1 in 4, were found to exceed the limit.

Mercury contamination is a particular concern for women of childbearing years (16 to 49 years old) because mercury exposure in the womb can cause neurological damage and other health problems in children. The EPA has not established mercury exposure health standards for older children, men, or women older than 49.

"I teach my children if you make a mess, you need to clean it up," said Verena Owen, Clean Air Campaign Chair for the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "The same rule should hold true for polluting power plants. Women in Illinois shouldn't have to worry that what they have for dinner could harm their children."

Coal burning power plants are the nation's biggest mercury polluter, releasing 42 percent of the country's industrial mercury pollution. Mercury from dirty power plants falls into lakes, streams and oceans, concentrating in fish and shellfish, which are then consumed by people. The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a warning about the dangers of eating large predator fish (such as bass or walleye) from any river or lake in Illinois due to mercury pollution.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has proposed strict limits on mercury emissions from coal plants, calling on them to cut 90% of their mercury pollution by 2009. Blagojevich's proposal will be taken up by the Illinois Pollution Control Board next month.

“Governor Blagojevich's mercury cleanup plan would go a long way toward making Illinois fish safe to eat again,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. “We call on Illinois power plant owners to put the pollution controls on their smokestacks to protect our kids rather than fight to derail the plan.”

Consuming fish contaminated with mercury is the most common way people are exposed to the toxic metal. The study found a correlation between a person's mercury levels and the amount of fish they ate.

“In the samples we analyzed, the greatest single factor influencing mercury exposure was the frequency of fish consumption,” said Dr. Steve Patch, Co-director of EQI and co-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.”

Home hair sampling kits are still available at cost via Sierra Club's web site. The EQI report and supporting documents will also be available.