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The original plan, proposed in the year 2000 by the Clinton
administration, called for the cuts of the mercury emissions
from utilities to take effect in 2008. If the Bush administration
extends the time, mercury emissions won’t begin to be
capped until 2018. This will result in hundreds of tons of
extra mercury emissions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
one in 12 women of childbearing age have mercury levels in
their blood that exceed levels that the Environmental Protection
Agency says is safe for fetuses. Mercury can be ingested by
nursing babies whose mothers eat contaminated fish.
Studies found that 40 percent of mercury emissions come from
coal burning power plants and have been found to cause neurological
problems. Delaying the program by 10 years will put countless
infants and children at risk for brain damage.
Reuters
UK December, 4 2003
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