R.I.: Report cites dangerous levels of mercury in rain

By David Rising, Associated Press, 9/19/2000 16:54

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Rainfall in Rhode Island contains mercury that far exceeds levels considered safe, according to a National Wildlife Federation report released Tuesday.

The study found mercury levels in the state's rain were more than five times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deems safe for people. Providence's rain was found to be contaminated with mercury nearly 30 times higher than acceptable.

Mercury is a neurotoxin linked to learning disabilities and immune system and heart problems, and is especially harmful to children.

As many as 60,000 children across the country each year may develop neurological problems because of low-level mercury contamination passed on through their mother prior to birth, the NAS report said.

The report's authors said the findings are particularly disturbing because traditionally rain has been cleaner than water in lakes and rivers, and acted as a cleanser.

''Now we know the opposite is true,'' the researchers wrote. ''Rain itself is so contaminated by mercury that it adds pollution to our lakes and streams.''

In 34 of 67 readings of Providence's rain, the mercury content was higher than what is considered safe for aquatic life and wildlife. In virtually all of the readings, mercury levels were higher than what the EPA considers safe for humans.

The EPA standard applies only to the Great Lakes region, but the agency plans by December to decide whether to implement a national standard for mercury emissions.

Andy Buchsbaum, one of the report's authors, said the danger to people is not from drinking the water, but from eating fish in which the mercury accumulates.

Rhode Island is the only New England state that has not issued statewide fish advisories that would apply to all inland lakes and streams, according to the report. However, the Rhode Island Department of Health issued a warning to residents in April to limit their consumption of certain types of fish from the Woonasquatucket and other rivers. Aimee Tavares of Clean Water Action, partly blamed emissions from the Brayton Point power plant, just over the border in Somerset, Mass., for the problem in Rhode Island.

PG&E Corp., which owns Brayton Point and the Salem Harbor Station, pointed out that emissions from trash incinerators in Massachusetts far exceed that of the utility's two fossil fueled power plants, according to analysis of EPA data. Last week, PG&E was chosen for a federal pilot program to evaluate technology that controls mercury emissions.

Across the country, coal-burning electric power plants are the largest source of mercury, but in the Northeast, municipal waste incinerators are the greatest source, the report said.

Mercury is also present in dish detergents, fluorescent light bulbs, and even the batteries that power flashing lights in children's sneakers. It also occurs naturally.

The report, part of the Wildlife Federation's Clear the Rain Campaign, calls on major industry to dramatically reduce emissions and asks citizens to help cut mercury pollution by conserving energy and not purchasing products that contain mercury.

''This report is a clarion call for all Rhode Islanders to demand a thorough testing program of our lake waters and fish for mercury contamination from the proper state agencies,'' said Paul Beaudette, delegate for the Environmental Council of Rhode Island Inc.

State environmental officials in July pledged to reduce mercury emissions by 75 percent by 2010 and eventually eliminate all mercury emissions.

On the Net:

National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/263/region/Report_cites_dangerous_levels_:.shtml

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), September 19, 2000