EPA Says Limits On Mercury Emissions From Coal Plants Not Necessary

[appalachiablue]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday said limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants were no longer necessary as their costs outweighed the benefits, a move environmentalists said was favorable for the coal industry and could increase health hazards.

Under the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, or MATS, enacted under former President Barack Obama, coal plants have been forced to install expensive equipment to cut output of mercury, which can harm pregnant women and put infants and children at risk of developmental problems.

Since August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been reconsidering the justification for the rule. Electric utilities have pushed back on the potential loosening of requirements, saying they have already invested in technology to cut emissions of the dangerous pollutant.

In a statement issued on Friday during a partial government shutdown, the EPA said the emission standards of the MATS rule would remain in place. But it proposed to withdraw the justification for the requirements.



Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-epa-says-limits-on-mercury-emissions-from-coal-plants-not-necessary/ar-BBRxEb9?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

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World Health Organization, 2017

Mercury and health, Key facts

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
Exposure to mercury - even small amounts - may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life.
Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
Mercury is considered by WHO as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.
People are mainly exposed to methylmercury, an organic compound, when they eat fish and shellfish that contain the compound.
Methylmercury is very different to ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.

Mercury exists in various forms: elemental (or metallic) and inorganic (to which people may be exposed through their occupation); and organic (e.g., methylmercury, to which people may be exposed through their diet). These forms of mercury differ in their degree of toxicity and in their effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. More,
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mercury-and-health

[MiniMe]

1. Bastard! Poisoning us is not the answer

[ret5hd]

2. Yes it is. I don't understand why you state that it isn't.

I suppose it could depend on the question that is being asked.

[SharonAnn]

16. It costs too much to not kill us. So they'll have to kill us.

[sakabatou]

3. WTF?!

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. They're out of their minds.

[SamKnause]

5. Asbestos

Nuclear waste

Mercury

All are safe under the EPA of Trump.

[red dog 1]

6. Every single day this evil, lying child-rapist does something that's dangerous for America

Every single fucking day!

K&R

[IronLionZion]

7. Next the EPA will announce the EPA is not necessary

and will be cut from the budget to pay for subsidies to coal companies.

[Red Pest]

8. Whose cost and whose benefits

Let's be clear, when mercury is released into the environment it will move through the food chain (trophic levels) and become more concentrated. We (humans) tend to eat animals that have concentrated levels of mercury. This toxic metal is a potent nephro-toxin and neuro-toxin and will particularly affect children and fetuses.

Here is a link to a good article on the effects on children's health - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3096006/

With this in mind how can anyone seriously propose reducing the standards?

Yes, I know, it's all about the money (serious money), but how do these bad excuses for humans (aka shit for brains) rationalize the effects on their own children and grandchildren? Mercury pollution is ubiquitous - into the air, water, and soil and then into organisms and up the food chain into us.

As I tell my students - there is nothing good about coal mining!

[Ohiogal]

9. Unbelievable.

"...mercury, which can harm pregnant women and put infants and children at risk of developmental problems."

Pro-life = It's OK to harm fetuses and children as long as WE do it and can make a profit in the process.

[pangaia]

10. I sure hope somebody is keeping a list of everything that will have to be fixed.

[sinkingfeeling]

11. We don't need no health, clean air , or water. We just need coal.

[trof]

12. Mercury emissions equals poisonous fish in Alabama.

There are restrictions on eating bass, crappie, bream, etc. in many lakes in Alabama due to mercury emissions from coal burning utilities.
Yeah, no problem unless you want to go fishing.

[tclambert]

13. Hey, Donald Trump was exposed to lots of mercury when he was a kid, and he turned out just fine.

They didn't have any of those fancy regulations about how much mercury was safe, and what fish you could eat back when he was a youngster waiting to inherit a fortune. And now look at him. He doesn't show any mental deficits. His doctors keep telling us he's in great health. And he tells us he has a great brain and is like a smart person. So, see? Your kids have nothing to worry about.

[durablend]

14. Now you've done it

He'll probably insist they put lead back into paint

[angrychair]

15. Paint and gas

Only the very best lead painted cars with lead gasoline all made by trump industries.