Mercury: What You Need to Know
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Mercury primarily affects humans through the consumption of contaminated fish. |
What is Mercury?
Mercury is a toxic element that pollutes lakes and streams across the world.
Where Does Mercury Come From?
The single, largest source of mercury pollution in Minnesota and the rest of the United States is from coal-burning power plants. Other sources of mercury in Minnesota are taconite (iron ore) processing and sewage and waste incineration. Mercury is also contained in household products like thermometers, thermostats, switches, fluorescent light bulbs, and some electronic products.
How Does Mercury Affect People?
When power plants burn coal, mercury is released into the atmosphere. This mercury then returns to the earth via rain or snow where it ends up in our lakes and streams. Mercury primarily affects humans through the consumption of contaminated fish.
Mercury interferes with the central nervous system of humans and can cause permanent damage to the brain. Children and fetuses are at greatest risk of harm and may suffer from a variety of developmental disabilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that eight percent of women of childbearing age have high enough levels of mercury in their blood to endanger a developing fetus. This statistic puts 5,000 babies in Minnesota at risk each year!
Reduce Your Risk
Minnesota has a statewide fish consumption advisory due to mercury. The following are guidelines in MN:
| Fish | How often can you eat it? | |
|---|---|---|
| General Population (men and women not planning to become pregnant) | Sunfish, crappie, perch | Unlimited |
| Walleye, pike, bass, muskee | 1 meal/week | |
| Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish | 1 meal/month | |
| Special Populations (Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant and children under age 15) | Sunfish, crappie, perch | 1 meal/week |
| Walleye, pike, bass | 1 meal/month | |
| Walleye (>20in), pike(>30in), muskee | Do Not Eat | |
| Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish | Do Not Eat |
Source: MN Department of Health. Eat fish often? A Minnesota Guide to Eating Fish. May 2003. www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/fish/index.html
Canned albacore tuna, grouper, sea trout, orange roughy and bluefish have been also shown to have high levels of mercury. For more information on these species please visit: The Environmental Working Group's Mercury in Seafood page.
What Can You Do?
- There are many opportunities to advocate for clean, renewable energy instead of coal-fired power. Get involved! Visit our Clean Air and Energy page. Get involved!!
- Ensure compliance with the new mercury standards in Minnesota — track the progress of the utilities through the MN Pollution Control Agency
- Properly dispose of any household products containing mercury (see Mercury in Household Items), and buy mercury-free alternatives when available.
- Conserve energy and purchase Energy Star efficient appliances to reduce reliance on energy and the coal used to generate it.
- Choose the "green power" option, such as Xcel's Windsource program, to buy clean renewable energy from your electric company.
Common Mercury Products
Mercury is found in a variety of items including:
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Thermometers
- Button batteries
- Household/Appliance switches (thermostats, clothing irons, curling irons, etc.)
- Automotive switches
- Computers and other electronics
- Silver dental fillings (contain 50% mercury)
- Thimerosal (used to sterilize vaccines such as flu shots and is 49.5% mercury)
For more items and alternatives see: Mercury Products Guide (pdf, 948k) from the National Wildlife Federation.
Mercury-free or low-mercury alternatives are available for many of these items. For example, you can recycle your old thermometer and replace it with a new digital one or replace old light bulbs with low-mercury Philips Alto bulbs.
It is very important when you dispose of an item containing mercury that you do it properly to prevent mercury from entering the waste stream. Please visit: earth911.org to find a recycling center near you.
For more information about the Sierra Club's Clean Air Campaign or to get involved, contact us at:
612-659-9124