By: Melody Reis, Senior Legislative and Regulatory Policy Manager, 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 today. My name is Melody Reis, and I am the Senior Legislative and Regulatory Policy Manager for Moms Clean Air Force. I strongly support the EPA’s proposed safeguards against mercury and other toxic emissions coming from coal-fired power plants, and I urge the agency to finalize the strongest possible safeguards by the end of the year.
As you are aware, mercury occurs naturally in coal in small quantities. When coal is burned to create energy, that mercury is released into the air. Mercury in the air can travel thousands of miles before eventually settling into waterways (or the land, where it can then be washed into the water). Once in the water, certain microorganisms can change mercury into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish and animals that eat fish. Most human exposure to mercury comes from the consumption of fish.
As someone who doesn’t eat seafood, I’d never put much thought into protecting myself from exposure to mercury. I recently learned, however, that mercury—including mercury released from burning coal—has been found in rice. Mercury gets into groundwater and contaminates the soil where rice plants are growing. And rice plants are growing here in the US. The US rice industry produces 20 billion pounds of rice annually. What’s more, mercury has been detected in rice cereal, a traditional first food for babies, going back generations.
Imagine being a new parent, having meticulously followed the most current health advice during nine long months of pregnancy, having memorized the list of fish and shellfish to avoid due to high mercury levels, having done your best to protect your baby only to find that the rice cereal that you selected as your baby’s first food also contained methylmercury.
There is no safe level of mercury consumption, and babies and children are among the populations most vulnerable to its harm. Mercury can cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, especially in fetuses and young children, resulting in developmental delays, birth defects, and behavioral problems. Being a new parent is full of responsibilities. Worrying about mercury in rice cereal should not be one of them.
EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards have been highly effective in reducing mercury pollution and protecting human health, but updates are needed, and the rules need to be strengthened. I support EPA’s proposed rule and urge that the agency finalize these standards as quickly as possible. Thank you for your time.