May 29, 2003
Environmental Advocates of New York
National Wildlife Federation

Alarming New Data Reveal Dangerous Mercury Levels in Rain Falling Over New York

ALBANY, NY - A new National Wildlife Federation (NWF) report reveals that the rain falling from New York skies contains levels of mercury far exceeding what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers "safe" for people and wildlife in surface waters. "We usually think of rain as pure and clean," said Mark Van Putten, president of the National Wildlife Federation. "But this report reveals that the rain falling over New York contains ominous levels of mercury and threatens the health of people and wildlife."

The report, titled “Cycle of Harm: Mercury’s Pathway from Rain to Fish in the Environment,” found that mercury contamination levels in rain and snow falling over a dozen states consistently exceeded the EPA's "safe" standards for mercury in surface water. In New York:

• The highest mercury level measured in rain (29.9 ng/L) was 8.5 times the EPA human health standard for mercury in lakes.
• 84 percent of the rain samples exceeded the EPA human health standard for mercury in lakes.
• Over 93 percent of the rain samples collected exceeded the New York state mercury water quality criteria for wildlife (2.6 ng/L).
• The average rain sample collected was nearly two times the EPA’s human health standard for mercury in lakes.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that has made its way into the food supply, contaminating fish and posing a risk to people and wildlife that consume fish. Most at risk are children and the unborn. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 12 women of childbearing age (8 percent) has blood mercury levels exceeding the EPA safe level for protection of the fetus. This translates into approximately 320,000 babies born annually in the United States at-risk for neuro-developmental delays. In wildlife, mercury is a reproductive hazard with harmful effects on species such as rainbow trout, zebra fish, mallard and American black ducks, loons and terns, otters and mink.

In New York, the top 10 mercury sources report emitting over 1,000 pounds annually. "Given that as little as 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury depositing annually into a 25-acre lake is enough to render the fish unsafe to eat, this amount is alarming," said Felice Stadler, national policy coordinator for NWF’s Clean the Rain campaign. Nationally, more than one-third of mercury emissions comes from coal-fired power plants, with much of the remainder coming from chlor alkali plants and municipal and medical waste incinerators. New York, along with 43 states nationwide, has issued advisories warning people to limit consumption of fish caught from inland lakes, streams and coastal waters.

“Mercury pollution triggers advisories that affect more than 1,550,000 resident and non-resident anglers who spend more than $1 billion annually in New York,” continued Stadler.

In addition to calling for nationwide controls on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and the elimination of mercury in products and manufacturing, the report recommends that New York:

• Reduce mercury pollution from power plants by 90% by setting new emission standards, either through NYSDEC rulemaking or by passing a new law
• Fully fund a monitoring program to test New York’s nearly 3,000 lakes and streams for mercury
• Phase out trash incineration, a polluting and expensive waste management option and large mercury source. Trash incineration should not be considered as renewable energy or beneficial reuse
• Remove mercury entirely from the state’s solid waste stream before it is processed
• Make sure New York’s schools are completely mercury free

“As a downwind state, New York was among the first to recognize the serious consequences of contaminated rain,” said David Higby, a project director with Environmental Advocates. “This report clearly shows that mercury continues to be a part of this ongoing problem here, and we now we have an opportunity to demonstrate national leadership in protecting our water bodies, our wildlife and our children from this potent toxin.”

For this report, NWF analyzed mercury rain data in New York, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas. State profiles provide data on mercury sources, fish advisories, sport fishing revenue and mercury-related activities.

“This report illustrates the significance of mercury air pollution sources in contaminating our nation’s lakes and streams, and fish. It makes clear that current efforts to eliminate mercury sources are woefully inadequate. Much more can, and should be done,” concluded Stadler.

The full report is available online at www.nwf.org.

The nation’s largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy group, the National Wildlife Federation unites people from all walks of life to protect nature, wildlife and the world we all share. The Federation has educated and inspired families to uphold America’s conservation tradition since 1936.

Environmental Advocates of New York has been at the forefront of the movement to protect New York's air, land, water and wildlife since 1969. One of the nation's first state environmental councils, Environmental Advocates established a prototype for environmental advocacy that continues to be replicated in state capitals across the nation. Since 1995, EANY has been the National Wildlife Federation’s New York State affiliate. Online at www.eany.org.