Just 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury creeping into a 25 acre lake annually is enough to make the lake's entire population of fish unsafe to eat.

Background

The Problem: Excess mercury pollution is threatening the health of our communities. Its ability to affect future generations by way of poisoning the young and the unborn makes it even more tragic and could prolong the serious consequences well into the future. Mercury pollution is preventable in many cases, with an abundance of alternatives to today's mercury-based products and processes. Support from concerned groups and citizens like you can help form the right mindsets and policies for stifling the deposition of mercury in our environment.

How It Happens: Mercury is a substance that exists naturally in the environment. In the last 200 years, however, the amount of mercury measured in the environment has grown drastically. Mining and other industrial processes growing during this time have been the primary amplifiers of environmental mercury levels. Besides the unfortunate pollution to our air, land, and water, there are several reasons this is a serious issue. (footnotes?)

Why it's Dangerous: Mercury pollution can do a lot more harm than sully our precious environment. It is an insidious element in the fact that it maintains its potency as it is integrated into the varying components of the eco system. Even after being absorbed by bacteria, then by plankton, and then eaten by fish, the mercury is still concentrated enough to affect a consumer as though they were ingesting the mercury itself. The ensuing effects of this mercury consumption can be quite severe. Even in fully developed adult humans, severe neurological damage can result, including hindered motor skills, loss of memory, and decreased cognitive ability. These same effects and additional complications are increasingly likely in young children and the unborn.

What you can do about it:

• All Wisconsinites are advised to limit the large fish eaten from ALL of Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams (DNR)
• Impacts on cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language and fine motor and visual skills have been seen in children exposed to methylmercury in the womb (EPA)
• Both men and women have suffered from infertility as a result of high blood mercury levels (National Wildlife Federation)

Steps lawmakers can take:

• Eliminate sales of mercury-containing thermostats, switches, and relays for new applications. For existing devices, promote mercury-free alternatives when replaced.
• Restrict installation and improve disposal/ recycling practices for mercury containing parts, including automotive components.
• Restrict the disposal and use of mercury- contaminated materials and develop better take-back programs for all mercury-containing products.