US inches towards mercury regulation

The US is moving towards stamping out mercury pollution, thanks to the passage of a new piece of legislation.

The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act calls for the phasing out of mercury pollution by chlorine-producing plants within two years of its passage. It has been voted through by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, which means it will now be reviewed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

According to the bill, one in 10 women in the US have mercury in their bloodstreams at levels that could harm their unborn children. Most of the pollutant comes from contaminated fish, it adds.

"The long-term solution to mercury pollution is to minimise global mercury use and releases of mercury to eventually achieve reduced contamination levels in the environment, rather than reducing fish consumption, since uncontaminated fish represents a critical and healthy source of nutrition for people worldwide, " says the bill.

The proposed legislation targets the 'foul four' plants in the US that produce chlorine, and which have not yet committed to phasing out mercury use. One other plant also uses the 'mercury cell' chlor-alkali process, but unlike the others has agreed to phase out its use.