April 13, 2006

BALTIMORE-On the eve of Good Friday, when many Catholics eat fish, and two days before the start of trophy fishing season for striped bass, the MaryPIRG Foundation released a report finding that 59% of fish caught and tested by state agencies contained unsafe levels of mercury.

Nearly one in ten fish, including striped bass, contained concentrations of 300 parts per billion (ppb) or greater, ten times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration recommended limit. This level of contamination warrants a species-specific fish consumption advisory.

The report, Mercury Pollution in Maryland: A Comprehensive Look at Contamination in Local Waterways, inspected data from nearly 2,000 fish. The study marks the first time multiple databases from different state agencies have been combined to get a more complete picture of mercury contamination across the state.

"This report documents in detail the extent of the mercury problem in our state," said Chris Fick, policy associate with MaryPIRG. "Lawmakers need to take every step possible to reduce mercury pollution so that Marylanders can safely eat the fish caught in our waterways."

Exposure to mercury can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, lowered IQ, and attention deficits in children and heart attacks and other problems in adults.

"Mercury is particularly toxic to the developing brain of children," said Katie Huffling, a nurse with the Environmental Health Education Center at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. "Too many parents are at risk of having children detrimentally affected by mercury contamination. The fact that 59% of fish are contaminated is appalling."

Environmental and public health advocates called on the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), a regional body of thirteen states, from Virginia to Maine, and the District of Columbia, to include significant mercury reductions in their proposals to reduce air pollution. Early drafts of the policy included mercury, but states are wavering on whether to include it in the final proposal. Advocates agree that mercury is essential to the plan, and say the Maryland Healthy Air Act, which will reduce pollution from power plants by 90% by 2013, could be a model rule to adopt.

The Healthy Air Act, which was signed by Governor Robert Ehrlich last week, will also reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Supporters argue that the utility industry has long advocated a nationwide approach, and that a large regional approach would be a step in the right direction.

"We need neighboring states to reduce their mercury emissions by 90%," said Erin Fitzsimmons, Chesapeake Regional Coordinator for the Waterkeeper Alliance. "A consistent standard from Maine to Virginia is best. We won't rid our waters of mercury without regional reductions."

While much of Maryland's mercury pollution comes from local sources, experts agree that a significant amount of mercury blows into Maryland from out of state. Reducing the mercury regionally will be crucial to furthering reductions.

"We've passed a great law here in Maryland," said Fick. "There is no reason why the Maryland Department of the Environment shouldn't be pushing this as an ideal rule for regional adoption."

Advocates say Maryland legislators, who wrapped up their annual session on Monday night, failed to pass legislation that could have reduced mercury pollution. A bill providing financial incentives for recycling mercury from automobile switches would have further reduced mercury pollution had it passed.

Automobile switches represent the largest manufacturing source of mercury. Automakers use mercury in switches for convenience lighting, anti-lock brake systems and other control systems, even though mercury-free alternatives exist. The mercury is released when vehicles are dismantled for scrap and component recycling, which can include crushing and remelting of steel. If mercury is not removed prior to dismantling and processing, it can be released into soils and waterways from crushing or into the air when steel is processed for recycling.

The bill that was before lawmakers, HB 1597, provided a $3 reclamation fee for recyclers, to be paid for by manufacturers who would also finance the costs for mercury storage, handling, transportation and recycling. Similar programs in other states have reported a 90% reclamation rate. Voluntary programs in other states have not proven as effective.

Environmentalists praised the General Assembly for passing legislation addressing mercury pollution. In addition to passing the Healthy Air Act, lawmakers also banned the sale and manufacture of mercury thermostats.

"These are important steps that we applaud," said Fick, "But completely eliminating mercury from the environment is a realistic and necessary goal, and we can't stop until that happens."

No More Mercury
For More Information:
Chris Fick, (410) 467-0439
Katie Huffling, (410) 706-2351
Erin Fitzsimmons, (410) 280-8525