Last month, EPA proposed important new protections against mercury pollution from coal-burning power plants. This proposal is a big step forward.
Mercury moves from coal to table. A heavy metal that’s especially toxic for babies’ developing brains, it ends up in our food when pollution from coal-fired power plants is spewed into the air and then rains down on our waters.
From fish to rice, many foods are contaminated with mercury. But there is no safe level of mercury consumption.
Moms Clean Air Force has been fighting for more than a decade to cut dangerous mercury pollution—along with more than 80 other toxic air pollutants, from arsenic to acid gases—from coal-fired power plants.
In the early days of our organization, we showed up at EPA to ensure the first Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), implemented in 2012, were as strong as possible. And we have showed up day after day ever since to protect these standards from attempts to undermine them.
Our work over the last decade-plus has paid off. We have successfully fended off efforts to weaken the 2012 standards. And MATS has been highly effective in reducing toxic air pollution and protecting human health.
- Mercury pollution has dropped 86%.
- Acid gas air pollution has been cut by 96%.
- Non-mercury metal air pollution has been reduced by 81%.
While mercury protections have clearly made a difference, much work remains to be done. There are still many coal plants in the US releasing significant amounts of mercury into the air and putting families’ health at risk.
We once again have the opportunity to speak out to protect people’s health from harmful mercury pollution. This dangerous heavy metal doesn’t belong in our air. And it certainly doesn’t belong in babies’ brains.
If the last 10-plus years have proved anything, it’s that our voices on mercury matter. Tell EPA no amount of toxic mercury pollution is safe for our children. It’s critical that we strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.
Learn more about Moms’ work on mercury pollution.
TELL EPA: MOMS SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THE MERCURY AND AIR TOXICS STANDARDS