Mercury: How Much Is In You?

Mercury: How Much Is In You?

Last week Sierra Club offered Tampa residents, mostly young women, the chance to have their hair tested to determine how much mercury is in their bodies. But why does anyone need to know such a thing?

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that accumulates in the body's tissues over time. The most likely way we are exposed to mercury is through eating seafood that contains this toxin. While high levels of mercury can cause problems for people at any age, it's an especially dangerous risk for women of childbearing age (16-45), as in pregnancy mercury can pass through a mother's placenta and harm the baby. When the baby's brain is developing in the womb, mercury impacts the child's future ability to learn, remember, and pay attention.

The best way for one to determine how much mercury is in one's body is through laboratory testing of a hair sample, a diagnostic procedure that identifies if there is a potentially risky trace level of this toxin. Confidential test results will be mailed to these participants, providing medical information that can be used to consult with physicians in the case of tests showing a high level.

The event was covered by four TV stations and WMNF-FM radio news. 

We appreciate the volunteer service of Marcel Perets and Anita Arnette, experienced stylists, who took samples so that the clipped hair area would not show. Thanks to Original French Accent Hair Salon of Carrollwood for making this special event possible.

The Sierra Club's national mercury hair-testing program has been a great success, with free testing events held in more than 30 cities in 20 states! If you're interested in finding out how much toxic mercury is in your body, our partners at the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service are offering individual testing for only $20 per person.

Mercury: What You Can Do

Today power plants burning coal to generate electricity are the largest source of toxic air emissions in the United States. Until now, we've had no national standard to protect us from toxic air pollution from these sources. This pollution contains mercury, arsenic, lead, dioxin and other heavy metals, and is linked to health problems such as developmental disabilities, birth defects, cancer, heart disease, brain damage, asthma attacks and even premature death.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now in the process of issuing strong safety standards to substantially reduce the amount of these toxins allowed in smokestack emissions. In the case of mercury, fish that should now be avoided due to current high levels of mercury will become much safer in a relatively short time, as mercury levels are expected to decline rapidly once emissions are curbed. What fish is now safe to eat? You can find the answer by downloading our Safe Seafood Guide to keep in your purse or wallet when dining out or at the grocery store.

But the most powerful thing you can do right now is help get Sierra Club members in Chicago to attend the May 24th EPA hearing being held in their city. Participate in our automated phone banking from your home this Sunday evening, May 22, 7:00 – 9:30 pm. In just an hour or two, you can speak directly to two to four dozen Chicagoland Sierra Club members as our automated system connects you only to those who answer their phone. You will be urging Sierra Club members to attend the EPA hearing in person and ask EPA to get mercury out of our environment, our seafood and our bodies. For more info on participating in this Sunday's phone banking, email me at phil.compton@sierraclub.org.

More on mercury: Learn more about the dangers of mercury and why it's important to be tested! Watch our segment on Good Morning America.