Scientists issue urgent warning over global mercury contamination of fish

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer
Tags: mercury contamination, mercury emissions, health news

An international group of scientists has released the Madison Declaration on Mercury Pollution, warning that mercury exposure is now a public health problem in almost every part of the world and that the problem of mercury pollution is only getting more severe.

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What you need to know - Conventional View

• Mercury is a chemical element that acts as a toxin to the central nervous system, endocrine system and kidneys. It is widely used in a variety of industrial processes and is prevent is compact fluorescent light bulbs.

• The Madison Declaration presents 33 key findings of four panels of mercury experts from the past year. The declaration has been endorsed by more than 1,000 scientists.

• One of the most important findings was that three times more mercury is falling from the sky today than 200 years ago, before the Industrial Revolution. The primary source of this mercury is coal burning and solid waste incineration.

• Much of this mercury ends up in the ocean, where it is absorbed by fish. Eating fish is one of the most common means by which humans are exposed to mercury. Another common source of exposure is through mercury fillings (called "silver fillings" by the dental industry), which emit mercury vapor that is inhaled into the lungs where it enters the bloodstream.

• Mercury has long been known to have toxic effects on fetuses and developing children. New research indicates that it may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in men.

• Increased concentrations of mercury have been detected in fish-eating species all over the planet, even in remote regions. This indicates not only the prevalence of mercury contamination but also the severity of its potential effects on global ecosystems.

• Quote: "The policy implications of these findings are clear. The declaration and the detailed analyses of the five supporting papers clearly demonstrate the need for effective national and international policies to combat the environmental mercury problem." - Dr James Wiener

What you need to know - Alternative View

Statements and opinions by Mike Adams, founder of www.EcoLEDs.com, a manufacturer of mercury-free, energy efficient LED lighting products

• Mercury is devastating our global ecosystems. We must take strict measures right now to reduce our use of electricity in order to lower mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

• At the same time, in our search for energy efficient lighting, we must not simply switch from incandescent lights to fluorescent lighting, which contains an alarmingly high level of mercury vapor in each light bulb. Only LED lighting is both energy efficient and mercury free.

• Mercury from dental fillings also poses a severe environmental threat. Until the conventional dental community finally comes to its senses and stops poisoning patients with mercury fillings, our population will continue to burden the environment with mercury residues emitted by mercury fillings.

Bottom line

• Scientists have warned that mercury contamination constitutes a global health emergency.