PEI Receives a Failing Grade in Mercury Report Card

NS leads eastern provinces in mercury reductions

Pollution Probe has issued a Mercury Action Report Card for each of the eastern provinces based on their mercury reduction achievements to date. PEI received a failing grade for the last two years in a row. Nova Scotia was at the top of the group, receiving a grade of B-, up a full letter grade from last year. The provinces were judged on their achievements on 6 actions for mercury reductions set out in the 1998 New England Governors Eastern Canadian Premiers Mercury Action Plan. The NEG/ECP Mercury Task Force is calling for a 50% reduction in mercury emissions by 2005. The Northeast Alliance for Mercury Elimination, a coalition of environmental organizations from eastern Canada and United States is calling on Premiers and Governors to virtually eliminate mercury use and releases by 2010.

“There are many simple, cost effective actions that governments can take to reduce mercury use and releases,” says Bruce Lourie of Pollution Probe, “and we are asking the provincial governments to start real mercury reductions today.”

The New England Governors Eastern Canadian Premiers are holding their annual meeting in Halifax today to discuss common issues. Their decision to focus on business development and trade issues is disappointing, given the lackluster performance of the majority of the eastern provinces on fulfilling their promises of mercury reductions. 

“Business and trade issues can not be divorced from environmental protection,” says Lourie. “In fact the poor grades are a reflection of governments’ tendency to encourage development at the expense of the environment and public health.”   

Mercury pollution is a serious problem in eastern Canada and New England, with effects being seen in the decreased viability of wildlife, such as loons and eagles, as well as widespread fish advisory warnings.  A lack of scientific certainty has been blamed in the past for the lack of government initiative, regulations and real mercury reductions in North America.  Recent studies, however, have reaffirmed that mercury poses a significant threat to human health.  Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that is known to harm the normal development of children.

Mercury pollution in the eastern provinces is caused by a combination of metal smelting, waste incineration, coal-fired utilities and improper disposal of mercury containing products.  As much as 30% of the mercury pollution is caused by sources outside of the region, namely the mid-western coal burning facilities. Mercury’s susceptibility to long range transport makes its use and release an international issue, and heightens the need for strong coalitions and a dedication by both Canada and the United States to its elimination. 

Over a dozen regional environmental groups in Canada and the United States are supporting tougher actions, including the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Mercury Action Report Card 2000

Eastern Provinces

Prepared by Pollution Probe

July, 2000

PEI’s Mercury Grade Improves, Marginally

Based on new information supplied by the PEI Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment, PEI will be receiving a grade of D on Pollution Probe’s Mercury Action Report Card.  This report card was developed for each of the provinces in eastern Canada, including Quebec and Newfoundland, to assess the actions that have been taken to address mercury pollution in the region.  The criteria used for the report card was the New England Governors & Eastern Canadian Premiers Mercury Action Plan, signed by the five provinces and six states in 1998. 

“Although the PEI government is beginning to show signs that they are recognizing and addressing the seriousness of mercury pollution in the region, there has been a distinct lack of effort up until this point to reduce the use and emissions of the toxin”, says Pollution Probe’s Leah Hagreen. 

Although entering the third year of the region’s Mercury Action Plan, PEI is only at the early stages of program development.  At this rate of progress PEI will have a difficult time in fulfilling its commitments under the Action Plan, which among other goals sets out a target for a 50% reduction in mercury releases by 2003.

Environmental groups in the United States and Canada are accusing the provinces of not going far enough fast enough in the fight to eliminate mercury pollution problems in the eastern region.  “The lack of willingness on behalf of the Premiers to enact legislation which would curtail the use and release of mercury is stalling the implementation of mercury reduction strategies for the region,” Hagreen says.  “ The Premiers have fallen behind the Governors in their commitment to action.”

Pollution Probe is one of 20 groups in Canada and the Northeastern US that are pushing for a commitment by the Premiers and the Governors to eliminate the release of anthropogenic mercury by 2010. 

Pollution Probe will be issuing a national Mercury Report Card within the coming year to assess the goals and achievements of each of the provinces, territories and the federal government on their actions to eliminate the use and emission of mercury. 

On Monday morning Environmental Defense and Great Lakes United will be issuing a press release Automobile Industry Major Source of Toxic Mercury Pollution.  The release comes out of two reports released by these groups on mercury toxic pollution from the automobile and steel industries. 

These reports can be viewed at: www.cleancarcampaign.org/mercury.html

THE REPORT

This NORTH AMERICAN REPORT documents work done all over the world to combat the use and release of this well-documented, highly poisonous nerve toxin. 

Many international agreements have been signed that call for the elimination or reduction of mercury, and government actions from local to national level have targeted mercury for phase-out.  The United States has seen an increase in regulations requiring labeling, recycling, and even product bans.  Canada relies on voluntary agreements to reduce mercury use.

SOURCES

One of the largest uses of mercury is within switches used to control under-hood convenience lighting and some anti-lock brakes; this mercury is released into the environment when vehicles are recycled to make new steel.

In response to this problem, Pollution Probe is leading the first Canadian effort to develop a collection and recycling programme for mercury switches from vehicles, with the assistance of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Environment Canada, and Ontario Power Generation.

Pollution Probe has examined the entire life-cycle of mercury, from its use in vehicles to the ultimate release at vehicle recycling.  POLLUTION PROBE has been active in calling for the need to involve all stakeholders – including government and industry -- in the development of a strategy to eliminate mercury use and pollution.

Even with an eventual phase-out for mercury in these products, as has been committed to by the manufacturers within the next few years, mercury releases will continue for over a decade as cars reach their end-of-life and are recycled. 

Later this week Pollution Probe Directors will be meeting with the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association (CVMA), representing Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler, to invite them to participate in a programme to collect and recycle mercury switches from vehicles.

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS

Human health effects of chronic low level exposure to methylmercury are emerging as one of the most pressing environmental health issues in North America.  The U.S. National Academy of Science ended the controversy by concluding that the risks from mercury levels in the environment pose an unacceptable health risk to children born to mothers who eat certain fish during pregnancy. The academy's panel of scientists estimated that 60,000 children born each year in the United States were exposed during pregnancy to mercury levels that could cause neurological and learning problems.

Over 30 percent of Inuit women of child-bearing age have mercury levels in the World Health Organization fetal exposure risk range.  In selected communities 60 percent of the population is at risk, according to Health Canada studies.

Pollution Probe is the leading Canadian organization dedicated to fighting mercury pollution.  We have been actively working with government and industry, as well as other environmental organizations, for many years on mercury policy issues and reduction activities.

CONTACT INFO

Pollution Probe
Ken Ogilvie, Executive Director
(416) 926-1907 x231

Pollution Probe
Bruce Lourie, Director,
Mercury Programme
(416)922-9038 x22 or

Environment Canada
Communications Director
Johanne Beaulieu

Ontario Ministry of Environment
Ian Smith, Senior Advisor,
Toxic Substances/Mercury
(416)327-7714