Coal Power: 1 in 6 Children Exposed to Dangerous Mercury Levels?

Question

Mercury puts children potentially at risk for learning disabilities, motor skill impairment and short-term memory loss.  In the U.S., most of our electricity is produced from burning coal.  This coal has mercury in it, and when burned, the mercury goes into the air and settles into streams and lakes.  The mercury then poisons the fish in the water.  Many people are told not to eat certain fish, including pregnant women.  http://www.pbs.org/now/science/mercuryinfish.html

The result has been that people stop eating nutritious types of fish, which the body often needs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/19/business/19adco.html?ex=1282104000&en=aea4435f8c229337&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

If coal power plants are so dangerous, why doesn't the federal government start to require that electricity be produced by other methods  (e.g. nuclear, wind, solar, etc.)?

dooberheim · Accepted Answer

They should, but nuclear power is held to be more dangerous in many people's eyes.  It's not.  It is the safest bulk power source ever devised.

The mercury thing is different - Minimata disease was a specific problem in a specific place.  Fish these days don't have that problem except under unusual circumstances.

DK

jim m · Answer

Coal has been and still is misused everywhere. Its a crime how poorly engineered coal use has evolved over the past two centuries. Coal can be cleaned and should be cleaned prior to approving its use. The EPA has failed to fix this problem and the whole biosphere is being poisoned just because simple engineering skills are never applied to the use of coal. Mercury and other heavy metals should be removed from coal before any use of fossel fuel.

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Coal Power: 1 in 6 Children Exposed to Dangerous Mercury Levels?

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