"A potent neurotoxin capable of causing lifelong damage to the lungs, brain, skin and other organs, mercury is strictly regulated worldwide. Children, in particular, can suffer severe developmental impairment when exposed. A trace element that occurs naturally in rocks such as limestone, as well as in coal and crude oil, mercury remains locked underground for millions of years, largely entering the ecological cycle through human activity. It is released when fossil fuels are burned."
"Coal-fired power plants contribute substantially to environmental mercury pollution. The nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), cites them as the leading source of mercury contamination in the United States. The problem with coal is that although it contains only small amounts of mercury, it is burned in very large quantities. The most-affected communities tend to live near power plants, and are often marginalized or economically disadvantaged groups."
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can cause lifelong damage to lungs, brain, skin, and other organs, with children particularly vulnerable to developmental impairment. Mercury occurs naturally in rocks, coal, and crude oil and is released into the environment when fossil fuels are burned. Coal-fired power plants are a major contributor to environmental mercury pollution because large volumes of coal are burned, and nearby communities—often marginalized or economically disadvantaged—face the greatest exposure. Atmospheric mercury can remain aloft for more than six months, bioaccumulate in water, plants, and animals, and enter the food chain where tiny amounts can seriously harm human health. Recent policy actions included waivers allowing coal plants to exceed pollution limits.
Read at www.dw.com
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