mercury toxicity News

The organisers of the ‘Mercury 2013’ International Conference have created a free open day for members of the public on Sunday 28th July. “Anyone with concerns about the amount of seafood in their diet, or about dental fillings or exposure to mercury in past science lessons, or simply a scientific interest in mercury as a toxic pollutant, can come along and have their hair or ...

May 6, 2013

By Environmental Technology Publications Ltd

Mercury-resistant bacteria could help scientists to understand more about mercury cycling in the environment. In a new study, researchers identified one particular strain of soil bacterium that could serve as a model for the conversion of the toxic metal into less toxic forms. They also discovered a new gene involved in the conversion process. Bacteria play an important role in the cycling of ...

Jan. 14, 2016

By European Commission, Environment DG

The ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, confirms Europe's leading role to protect citizens' health and the environment around the world. Upon initiative from the EU, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the new global treaty on mercury was negotiated and concluded in 2013. The EU has one of the most ambitious policies for ...

May 18, 2017

By Europa Press Room

Last month, The Record reported that a dairy business is seeking a judgment of $1.4 million against a sanitary and clean-up company for costs and damages associated with a mercury spill at their business.  The spill occurred when a manometer containing the toxic liquid metal was laid on its side, spilling toxic mercury.   Mercury spills occur all too frequently.  In ...

Sep. 10, 2012

By EC2 Inc.

Yesterday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first national standards to protect American families from power plant emissions of mercury and air toxics like arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide. These new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will slash emissions of these dangerous pollutants by relying on widely available, proven pollution controls that are ...

Dec. 22, 2011

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued updates to pollution limits for new power plants under the mercury and air toxics standards, based on new information and analysis that became available to the agency after the rule was finalized. The updates are largely technical in nature and will have no impact on the sensible, achievable and cost-effective standards already set for ...

Mar. 29, 2013

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepares to release new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), some people may be wondering about the history and timeline for these standards. One Senator recently claimed that EPA is “charging ahead” with them. These standards, however, have been in development for over ...

Dec. 14, 2011

By World Resources Institute WRI

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first national standards to protect American families from power plant emissions of mercury and air toxics like arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide. These new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will slash emissions of these dangerous pollutants by relying on widely available, proven pollution controls that are already ...

Dec. 21, 2011

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

The European Commission last month proposed legislation to ban all European Union exports of mercury from 2011. The ban forms a key part of the EU's strategy for reducing global exposure to mercury, which is highly toxic to both humans and the environment. The export ban will significantly reduce global supply and thereby also emissions of the heavy metal into the environment. The proposed ...

Oct. 26, 2006

Mercury has many uses but its toxic properties are a health concern. A recent analysis explored the effects of mercury exposure on human genes. They identify four possible processes that could lead to genetic damage and suggest that international safety limits may need reviewing. Mercury is versatile and this means it is used in areas ranging from industry to dentistry and from pharmacology to ...

Sep. 17, 2009

By European Commission, Environment DG

As part of Children’s Health month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry today launched its “Don’t Mess with Mercury” video in an effort to protect children from the dangers of mercury. The EPA responds to numerous mercury spills every year that are primarily caused by children playing with mercury. The EPA’s cost for cleanup can ...

Oct. 7, 2009

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Health officials inCaliforniahave traced the mercury poisoning of a 39 year old woman to skin-lightening cream fromMexico. Last month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that at least 22 people in five households inCaliforniaandVirginiahad used mercury-laced skin-lightening creams made inMexico. Twelve Californians and ten Virginians had elevated levels of mercury in ...

Feb. 23, 2012

By EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Norit, the world’s largest and most experienced producer of activated carbon, will showcase its new MATS mercury removal solutions for utilities at EUEC, January 31 through February 2, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. At the conference, Norit will be showcasing: Comprehensive MATS Solutions With nearly 100 years of experience, Norit has the most expertise ...

Jan. 27, 2012

In response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement today of its final Mercury and Air Toxics Rule for Power Plants, the following statement was issued by Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres and director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), a network of 100 institutional investors across North America managing more than $10 trillion in assets: “We applaud the ...

Dec. 21, 2011

By CSRwire - Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire

The U.S. Environmental Protection has removed mercury that contaminated several homes and schools in the Parcelas La Cordillera community of Ciales, Puerto Rico and completed the cleanup of the affected homes and schools. The EPA continues to work with the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, Emergency Management Agency, Department of Health, Public Buildings Authority and the Department of ...

Jan. 10, 2013

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Today a diverse group of business leaders representing over 125,000 businesses across the country sent the following letter to President Obama, thanking him for the timely finalization and implementation of EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants. The text of the letter reads as follows: "Dear President Obama,  As leaders in the business community collectively ...

Dec. 21, 2011

By Ceres

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will join American Lung Association President and CEO Charles D. Connor and American Academy of Pediatrics President O. Marion Burton, M.D., F.A.A.P. to discuss the agency’s mercury and air toxics standards - the first-ever national standards for mercury and other air toxics from coal-fired power plants. They will be ...

Mar. 16, 2011

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

Even though mercury and other hazardous air pollution from U.S. power plants are declining, the progress at the coal-fired power plants are uneven, leaving in place a significant remaining risk to the health of the public and environment, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP).  Coal-burning power plants release millions of pounds of toxic pollutants into the ...

Jan. 3, 2013

By Environmental Integrity Project

At a ceremony today at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo., representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Trout Unlimited, and ADA Environmental Solutions, Inc. to highlight the benefits of EPA’s newly issued Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, the first national standards to protect ...

Jan. 10, 2012

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing final rules that will protect Americans’ health by cutting emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from Portland cement manufacturing, the third-largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States. The rules are expected to yield $7 to $19 in public health benefits for every dollar in costs. ...

Aug. 9, 2010

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency