Due to advocacy and litigation by Waterkeeper Alliance and our partners, on December 16, 2011, EPA signed a rule that will reduce emissions of mercury (along with other heavy metals and other acid gases) from coal-fired power plants by 91%! We are thrilled to be a part of the solution to a problem that adversely affects developing brains – including effects on IQ, learning, and memory. EPA estimates the health benefits associated with reduced exposure to fine particles are $59 billion to $140 billion in 2016, while the total national annual cost of this rule will only be $10.9 billion in the year 2016.
Power plants are the largest source of several harmful pollutants. They are responsible for 50 percent of mercury emissions, more than 50 percent of acid gas emissions, and about 25 percent of toxic metal emissions in the United States. These power plants are the reason why fish are poisoned across the country. According to public health experts, in 2016, these proposed rules would avoid:
6,800 – 17,000 premature deaths
220,000 cases of respiratory symptoms
4,500 cases of chronic bronchitis
850,000 days when people miss work
11,000 nonfatal heart attacks
120,000 cases of aggravated asthma
12,200 hospital and emergency room visits
5.1 million days when people must restrict activities
New EPA Mercury Emission Rule Announced
January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
