Mike Tidwell says: Maryland Lawmakers Have Mercury in Bodies



Mike Tidwell says: Maryland Lawmakers Have Mercury in Bodies

Startling Test: Maryland Lawmakers Have Mercury in Bodies

Caption: The Maryland Senate Chamber

3/24/2005 9:06:00 AM

To: State Desk

Contact: Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 240-460-5838, or Brad Heavner of MaryPIRG, 410-227-8949

ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 24 /U.S. Newswire/ --

-- Nearly One Third of Maryland Legislators in Voluntary Test Show Elevated Mercury Levels --

-- Test points up need for "Four Pollutant" bill now before MD General Assembly --

Nearly one-third of Maryland Senators and Delegates who participated in a voluntary test have shown elevated levels of mercury in their bodies. All 22 of the participants had at least some amount of the potentially harmful neurotoxin in their system, while seven -- including four women legislators -- had levels that the U.S. Evironmental Protection Agency declares unsafe for women of childbearing age.

"These results, taken from some of our highest political leaders, show just how dangerous and widespread the mercury threat has become in our state," said Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a co-sponsor of the test. "Until we scrub mercury from our dirtiest power plants -- using available, cost- effective technology -- we'll surely see more children, more pregnant women, and even more of our lawmakers put at risk."

In early March, 22 lawmakers surrendered five grams of their hair that was then tested by the Environmental Quality Institute at the University of North Carolina Asheville ( http://www.unca.edu/eqi/ ). Seven of the legislators had at least one microgram of mercury per gram of hair sampled. The US EPA considers this level dangerous for women of child-bearing age (16 to 49 years old).

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal, which, when ingested, can cause serious neurological damage, particularly to developing fetuses, infants, and children. Across America, one in six women of child- bearing age now have unsafe levels of mercury, according to the US EPA.

Coal-fired power plants are responsible for 41 percent of the total mercury emitted by all known U.S. sources. In Maryland, the state has issued fish consumption advisories for ALL of its rivers and lakes due to mercury contamination.

But the Maryland Four Pollutant Bill, HB 1169/SB 744, would reduce by 90 percent the mercury from the state's seven dirtiest plants. This would provide the state with millions of dollars in health treatment savings and incalculable benefits to otherwise injured children.

"This test of Maryland lawmakers mirrors results now found across this region and this country," said Brad Heavner of the Maryland Public Research Interest Group. "But with the federal government refusing to act on this tragedy, our state lawmakers should act promptly to protect themselves and the rest of Maryland from mercury by passing the Four Pollutant Bill. We know the problem and we know the solution. Pass the bill."

The test of Maryland lawmakers was voluntary and anonymous. Though not scientific in scope, the test broadly reflects mercury prevalence across the country ( http://www.nrcm.org/merc2/hairsample_pr.htm ).

http://www.usnewswire.com/

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

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Crisis Corps arrives in Thailand After the Tsunami in Southeast Asia last December, Peace Corps issued an appeal for Crisis Corps Volunteers and over 200 RPCVs responded. The first team of 8 Crisis Corps volunteers departed for Thailand on March 18 to join RPCVs who are already supporting relief efforts in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and India with other agencies and NGO's. 19 Mar 2005

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March's Feature Stories - only on PCOL Dream Come True - Revisiting India after 34 years The Coyne Column: Read Winning Vanity Fair PCV Essay Tomas Belsky's paintings inspired by service in Brazil RPCV reunites with friend after 40 years RPCV reviews "Los Heraldos Negros" by Cesar Vallejo Photo Essay: Taking it to the Streets

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March 19, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News New Jersey RPCVs host exhibit in Maplewood on April 2 20 Mar Maryland RPCVs eat crab cakes in Annapolis 17 Mar Illinois RPCVs present "Life on the Big Red Island" 13 Mar San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar Connecticut RPCVs held fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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March 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories RPCV points out catalytic effect of Iraq 19 Mar PCVs set up Basketball pool in Ukraine 19 Mar Sam Farr introduces bill to monitor ocean fisheries 18 Mar Bridgeland does not rule out run for Congress 18 Mar Jim Doyle promotes Institute for Discovery 18 Mar Newspaper says Bangladesh is safe for PCVs 18 Mar Joan Ruddiman revisits Peter Hessler's "River World" 17 Mar Mark Schneider says Save Haiti from more violence 17 Mar Troy Johnson joins delegation to Indonesia 17 Mar Chris Shays says baseball not exempt from the law 17 Mar "Hurlyburly" benefits gypsy women in Romania 15 Mar Chris Matthews interviews Schwarzenegger 14 Mar Fred Burke dies in NJ, trained early PCVs 13 Mar Mike Honda introduces Student Privacy Protection Act 13 Mar FT details Cheney-McPherson relationship 13 Mar Tucker McCravy reports on Tsunami Reconstruction 10 Mar Dennis Braddock retires with record of accomplishment 9 Mar

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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

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