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Mercury Pollution Rising in Illinois
Mercury pollution from coal-fueled power plants is rising in Illinois.

Federal data show a 7 percent increase last year, while nationally, mercury from coal-fueled power plants was down 4 percent.

This is not good, says Max Muller of Environment Illinois, but he considers it a blip on the way to a substantial reduction. He attributes the increase to power plants using higher-mercury coal.

The Illinois EPA enacted a rule in 2006 that requires power plants to cut mercury emission by 90 percent by 2015. In the meantime, most of the state’s 21 coal-fueled power plants must install mercury controls by the end of this year, and all of them must have the equipment by 2012, with "substantial" reductions in mercury emission before 2015.

Mercury that is emitted into the air ends up in water and is ingested by fish that people eat. The consequences of mercury consumption are harshest on children, because it affects their brain development, and on women of child-bearing age, who can pass along mercury contamination to their offspring.

(Illinois Radio Network)
12 28 09 by Newsroom
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