By: Hazel Chandler, Arizona State Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 9, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0794
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Hazel Chandler, and I am a field organizer with Moms Clean Air Force representing over 1.5 million moms and dads nationwide and 26,000 moms in Arizona. I strongly support EPA’s proposal to strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards and ask that the EPA finalize these standards as quickly as possible. Though we’ve made progress on cleaning up mercury pollution, thanks to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, there’s still a long way to go, and stronger standards are needed.
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that is especially dangerous for developing brains of babies and children as it can cross the blood-brain and placental barriers after ingestion, leading to toxic effects on fetal and infant brains. It is well known in medical and child development circles that it can interfere with normal brain development, leading to development delays, lowering IQ, causing learning and behavioral problems. This is exactly what I heard from concerned parents and health professionals while working as a Regional Director for Arizona First Thing First in Northern Arizona communities located near coal fired power plants. I have observed pockets of Arizona near our coal fired power plants where levels of developmental delays, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and birth defects are much higher than in other areas of the state.
The devastating stories of families whose children have been impacted by mercury and other toxins give me nightmares to this day. Not only does the child face permanent health and development issues, but the entire family faces economic and social issues from caring for a child with a disability. These families, through no fault of their own, are faced with caring for a child that requires extra care and medical expenses for the rest of their lives. To make matters worse, many of the children affected are low-wealth communities often bordering on tribal nations. These cumulative burdens often lock these families in poverty.
I strongly support strengthening protections from mercury and non-mercury toxins such as lead, arsenic, and chromium that also have impacts on brain development as well as the focus on reducing emission from other health harming pollutants. Another key to protecting young children is the requirement for continuous monitoring that requires tracking of pollution at all times.
We cannot continue to cause permanent harm to another generation of children. For the sake of the children, and most vulnerable, I ask you to finalize the strongest Mercury and Air Toxics standards as soon as possible. Our children’s health must be protected.