March 10, 2005
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Praises St. Louis Rep. Barbara Fraser

Jefferson City, Mo. -  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke about environmental ethics to a packed house at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri Wednesday evening.  Later he praised Representative Fraser’s efforts to address this health threat of mercury pollution at the state level.   Kennedy concluded, “Clean air and water are not radical ideas.  It is time we address this problem.  The technology exists to dramatically reduce the pollutant from our environment. It makes good economic sense to address this problem as soon as possible.”   Despite overwhelming information showing that mercury is a serious health and environmental problem, the Bush Administration is pushing for his plan to allow power plants to continue spewing this toxin.

Representative Barbara  Fraser (D-University City) introduced a bill today to address the growing mercury pollution in our state waterways. This legislation establishes an emissions fee for large producers of mercury pollutants. A statewide health warning was posted in 2001 alerting Missourians that every stream and lake in Missouri is contaminated with mercury. The Department of Health and Senior Services confirms the advisory is still in effect for 2005. These advisories urge people to avoid or limit consumption of fish due to high levels of mercury. “Children under the age of twelve and women of childbearing age are at greatest risk,” explains Rep. Fraser.

            Mercury is a highly toxic chemical that affects the central nervous system in the developing brains of unborn fetuses and very young. Poor attention span, impaired memory and vision, problems processing information, and impaired fine motor coordination are the negative effects associated with mercury exposure.

            The largest sources of industrial mercury emissions in Missouri are oil and coal burning power plants. The EPA has estimated that mercury emissions could be reduced by 90 percent with existing technologies.

Fishermen and environmentalists are applauding Rep. Fraser for her efforts. “Clean air, clean water, and safe fish are goals we should all support,” stated Bob Temper from the Ozark Flyfishers. Other supporting organizations include:   Heartland Renewable Energy, League of Women Voters of Missouri, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, and the Sierra Club. Sierra Club Director Carla Klein states that, “A clean healthy environment is essential for all Missouri citizens and a benefit to our economy.” Fraser states, “By addressing these serious health threats from mercury emissions with the fee, it is our hope that major producers will install the available technology to reduce this threat.”

Studies by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of six women of childbearing years in the U.S. have unsafe levels of mercury in their blood. Approximately 300,000 children are born each year with a heightened risk for neurological and developmental problems related to mercury exposure. Even more recently, the EPA stated that this is an understatement of mercury exposure and that as many as 630,000 children may be born each year with unhealthy levels of mercury in their blood. “This is an unacceptable and unnecessary risk that needs to be addressed,” reiterates Fraser. The intent of this bill is to encourage power plants to reduce mercury pollution.  A new study just released by the Department of Agriculture’s Northeastern States Research Cooperative shows mercury contamination is more pervasive than previously thought.  The study shows, “the toxic substance appears to be polluting the environment in ways that scientists previously did not think possible.”  

Rita Shreffler, Secretary for the National Autism Association, Nixa, Missouri explains, “A growing number of parents and scientists nationwide believe that exposure to mercury has played a causative role in the epidemic number of children in this country who now have neurological disorders.  Mercury is a known neurotoxin with symptoms of exposure nearly identical to those for autism and ADHD.  With one in six school-aged children now requiring special services, we can no longer afford to ignore the cost to society brought to bear from mercury exposure.  I wholeheartedly support Representative Fraser's efforts to address the serious threat to public health posed by mercury emissions.”