Dianne Timmins is a Fisheries Biologist with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department in Coos County:
Just prior to starting the dishes, I take a moment to admire the view out my sink window. I can see the snow covered trees and the ice covered reservoir. I take a breath as I think how great it was when my husband and I took our daughter swimming in the reservoir last summer. I smile as I think of how fun it will be to take her there this summer, since she will be three and much more interactive. Then I remember the advisory warnings for mercury and fish consumption. This gets me thinking about the legislative efforts to delay and dilute the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards.
I get mad thinking about why this would even be an option. I think of industrial cities, where children have more asthma due to pollution. Don’t these lawmakers have children? Why shouldn’t every child have the opportunity to drink water from a faucet without a filter, or from a glass, not from a plastic bottle? I wonder how some politicians can make proposals to continue polluting our children. I am somewhat fortunate in that I live in northern New Hampshire, far from this lifestyle. We still can drink from a faucet without a filter.
I say somewhat because I am also an angler and mercury hits home even up north where I live. My husband and I have been fishing since we were children and plan to take our daughter next summer. The sad news is because of past and current industrial practices, she can only have one four ounce meal of freshwater fish per month – all because of mercury pollution in our ponds, lakes and rivers. One meal per month and lobbyists on the side of the industries are saying they shouldn’t have to make the transformations previously ruled by the Clean Water Act. It took over two decades to get folks to realize this pollution was not necessary and now they are saying it is. I don’t get it.
I want my daughter to be able to reap the benefits of the previously ruled legislation. If we remove them, what benefit will she see? Will her kids not be able to eat fish at all? Does it make sense to remove a food source that was once an integral part of our survival?
Legislation has a history of working in circles. Let’s not let our children get stuck in this unnecessary hula hoop. Please contact your Senators today and tell them to support clean air and water and to strengthen the current Mercury and Air Toxic Standards. Join me and other concerned moms at MOMS CLEAN AIR FORCE.
Thank you, Dianne!
READ MORE:
How Mercury Poisoning Works
Mercury Q & A