Stop toxic air emissions now!

If you live near or downwind of a coal-fired or oil-fired power plant, you are likely breathing or ingesting mercury, arsenic, lead, other heavy metals, acid gases and dioxin.

These lethal metals and chemicals are among the most hazardous air pollutants known.  Even in small amounts, they contribute to cancer, heart disease, neurological damage, birth defects, asthma attacks and premature death.  In the U.S., coal and oil-fired power plants give off 60% of the arsenic emitted into the air, 50% of many acid gases, and 50% of the mercury.

Now, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a rule to protect Americans from that life-threatening air pollution.  Please add your comments to the EPA docket, voicing your support for this long-overdue, critically important public health safeguard.  (Note:  Please include your name, city and state.  They will be visible to those who view the EPA docket online.)

Mercury is particularly harmful because it builds up in people who consume contaminated fish, and mercury-contaminated fish are found in all 50 states and the open seas. A potent neurotoxin, mercury affects the developing nervous system of fetuses and small children, causing damage to cognitive thinking, memory, attention and language -- meaning life-long loss of intelligence -- as well as damage to fine motor and visual spatial skills. 

PSR has been striving for over six years to protect Americans’ health from toxic air pollutants from coal plants.  In 2005, PSR along with other health groups successfully sued the EPA because the original air toxics rule for power plants failed to adequately reduce mercury.  In 2008, we won another lawsuit to control hazardous air pollutants from power plants. That led to a court order requiring the EPA to finalize the mercury and air toxic standard this year.

We have waged a marathon effort to hold large polluters accountable for the heavy metals, acid gases and other hazardous emissions they spew into our air. PSR has come this far.  Now we need you to help us finish the last 50-yard dash.

Your comments supporting strong pollution controls for power plants are essential!

Please let the EPA know that these first-ever national limits on mercury and air toxics emissions from power plants are critical to protecting our health and our children.  Urge the EPA to stand its ground and move forward with the strongest air toxics protections possible.