Every year, coal-fired power plants produce over 386,000 tons of hazardous air pollutants – including mercury, arsenic, lead and acid gases. Mercury, a potent neurotoxin, is a particular threat to pregnant women and young children.

The EPA has announced plans to issue strong, sensible protections from power plant pollution on December 16th of this year. Unfortunately, industry special interests are trying to block this critical safeguard.

Mercury, a potent neurotoxin, is a particular threat to pregnant women and young children.

Exposure to mercury in utero can contribute to birth defects including neurological and developmental disorders, learning disabilities, delayed onset of walking and talking, and cerebral palsy.

Alarmingly, at least 1 in 12 – and as many as 1 in 6 – American women have enough mercury in their bodies to put a baby at risk. That means that over 300,000 babies are born each year at risk of mercury poisoning.

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed public health protections to clean up mercury and other dangerous pollutants from coal and oil-fired power plants. Unfortunately, Big Coal and Big Oil are trying to block these life-saving efforts.
Americans have waited too long for this commonsense safeguard.

Urge President Obama to stand strong against corporate special interests and issue the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard for Power Plants this year!