Coal

Environmental pollution effects all of us. Particulate matter in our air causes asthma, especially in young children. Nearly 1 in 4 children in Texas have some form of asthma. Mercury in our water supply puts pregnant women and young children at risk from eating many types of fish. The FDA has recently issued warnings to limit tuna, one of the most popular foods for young children. Please view the Healthy Fish brochure and the Fish Reference Guide for Clinicians, both developed by PSR.

Currently, the Austin (and National) PSR are focusing its efforts against power-plants. Coal fired power plants produce airborn pollutants, some of which further contaminates our waterways in the form of mercury. Texas leads the nation in the amount of mercury and toxic emissions produced.

What is the Federal Government doing about controlling power plant emmissions? It is relaxing the current standards under the auspices of the Clear Skies Act so these plants can pollute even more. Austin PSR has views on the issue similar to the Sierra Club, Wildlife Federation and Natural Resource Defense Council.

What is Texas doing about power plant emmissions? It is considering allowing the construction of new coal-fired power plants in San Antonio and Waco.

What is Austin PSR doing about the issue? It is participating in public education events, writing letters to the editor of local and state newspapers, working with agencies like the TMA to develop consensus statements on methylmercury, and writing letters to EPA chairman Leavitt to re-examine the Clear Skies Act.