Tribune: More Mercury Pollution in Illinois

By aaroncynic in News on Dec 28, 2009 5:30PM

Mercury pollution is on the rise in Illinois even though it has declined across the nation. According to the Chicago Tribune, coal plants in Illinois blew 7 percent more mercury into the air last year while emissions from U.S. power plants nationwide decreased by 4 percent. Mercury is among the many toxic byproducts that emanate from coal-fired power plants. In the Chicagoland area, emissions rose at three plants but fell at two others.

According to a recent EPA study, 48.8% of lakes in the United States have mercury content “above human health screening value.” According to the NRDC, the American Heart Association and the FDA, pregnant women, women of child bearing age and children should limit or eliminate certain types of fish from their diets, including tilefish, bigeye tuna orange roughy, and others.

While most other chemical emissions from power plants have federal limits placed on them, mercury does not have national restrictions.