Mercury problem in Pa.

To the editor: In early February, a Federal Appeals Court made a pivotal decision in a mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants case. The Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency could not use a cap-and-trade system to regulate the amount of mercury in the environment. The court determined that a cap-and-trade system would undermine the Clean Air Act by ignoring mandatory cuts in mercury pollution. This ruling is particularly important for Pennsylvania residents. In 2003, Pennsylvania had 36 coal-fired power plants that accounted for about 3.85 tons of mercury emitted into the air, ranking PA as second highest in the nation for mercury emissions. However, the coal-fired power sector only accounts for 40% of total U.S. man-made mercury pollution in the environment. The other 60% makes its way into the environment mostly through consumer and medical products such as electric switches and relays, medical and measuring devices, dental amalgam (silver fillings), thermostats and lamps. The effects of mercury can be very destructive. Some of the more severe known health effects include impaired memory, delayed development, reflex abnormalities, cerebral palsy, and emotional instability., With health effects this serious, we should be doing more to keep mercury out of the environment. As others have, Pennsylvania should enact legislation regulating top mercury polluting industries to protect the citizens who live here as well. Law makers in Pennsylvania need to stop dragging their feet and develop legislation that will protect the citizens of the Commonwealth. Bill Hassall Clean Air Council Philadelphia