California Water Tainted by Mercury
source: http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/09/ap-reports-california-water-tainted-by-mercury.html
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Read Government Stands By as Mercury Taints Water by Jason Dearen of AP. Photo credit to Jeff Chiu. Here's a clip:
NEW IDRIA, Calif. — Abandoned mercury mines throughout central California's rugged coastal mountains are polluting the state's major waterways, rendering fish unsafe to eat and risking the health of at least 100,000 impoverished people.
Rozan Brown and her son Tiyal, who was diagnosed with autism five years ago, pose for a photograph next to the gate of the Sulphur Bank Mine near the Elem Indian Colony on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Brown grew up at the colony The New Idria Mine, once the second largest in North America, sits untouched 27 years after EPA shut it down as an environmental hazard. The site serves as an example of how overburdened environmental regulators overlook a toxic sites, even with mounting evidence of danger. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
In California's rugged coastal mountains, hundreds of abandoned mercury mines litter the landscape, pouring out pollution that renders downstream fish unsafe to eat or imperils the health of people and wildlife. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Although the mining ceased decades ago, records and interviews show the vast majority of sites have not even been studied to assess the pollution, let alone been touched.
The CDC says high levels of mercury can cause brain damage and mental retardation in children when passed from mother to fetus. Brown's son, Tiyal, has been diagnosed with autism. The CDC has found no link between mercury and autism, but agency spokesperson Dagny Olivares said in an e-mail, "Additional information is needed to fully evaluate the potential health threats."
At most abandoned mercury mines, especially ones in remote places, nothing gets done at all...
NEW IDRIA, Calif. — Abandoned mercury mines throughout central California's rugged coastal mountains are polluting the state's major waterways, rendering fish unsafe to eat and risking the health of at least 100,000 impoverished people.
Rozan Brown and her son Tiyal, who was diagnosed with autism five years ago, pose for a photograph next to the gate of the Sulphur Bank Mine near the Elem Indian Colony on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Brown grew up at the colony The New Idria Mine, once the second largest in North America, sits untouched 27 years after EPA shut it down as an environmental hazard. The site serves as an example of how overburdened environmental regulators overlook a toxic sites, even with mounting evidence of danger. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
In California's rugged coastal mountains, hundreds of abandoned mercury mines litter the landscape, pouring out pollution that renders downstream fish unsafe to eat or imperils the health of people and wildlife. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Although the mining ceased decades ago, records and interviews show the vast majority of sites have not even been studied to assess the pollution, let alone been touched.
The CDC says high levels of mercury can cause brain damage and mental retardation in children when passed from mother to fetus. Brown's son, Tiyal, has been diagnosed with autism. The CDC has found no link between mercury and autism, but agency spokesperson Dagny Olivares said in an e-mail, "Additional information is needed to fully evaluate the potential health threats."
At most abandoned mercury mines, especially ones in remote places, nothing gets done at all...
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