Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that has contaminated the fish that we eat, resulting in a statewide freshwater fish advisory (pdf) in New Hampshire since 1994, warning pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and children under 7 to limit their fish consumption. Our Zero Mercury Campaign was launched in 2000 to pressure the New England Governors to virtually eliminate the use of, release of, and exposure to mercury in New Hampshire and the region by the year 2010.

The campaign goals are to:

1. Eliminate the use and emission of mercury in the region by 2010;
2. Protect children and adults from existing harmful levels of mercury contamination in fish through effective health warnings and education.

Following up on 1998 commitments by the New England governors to achieve "virtual elimination" of mercury emissions, the campaign is working with public officials to accelerate clean-up efforts and better inform the public of mercury exposure risks. New Hampshire's coal power plants in Bow and Portsmouth, our largest in-state sources, are now the only ones in New England that are yet to be regulated for mercury emissions. The issue is given added urgency in New Hampshire as ongoing research shows that fish-eating birds such as loons continue to be threatened by mercury poisoning in New Hampshire.

Given the serious health effects of mercury, the New Hampshire Zero Mercury Campaign includes a diverse coalition of environmental and public health organizations that are working together to urge the New England Governors Council and the New Hampshire state government to:

• Create New Hampshire State and New England Regional Zero Mercury Plans which result in virtual elimination of use and release of mercury by 2010.
• Implement protective and effective warnings on contaminated fish that truly protect developing children.
• For products containing mercury: implement a ban on disposal, require producer take-back, and phase out non-essential mercury use.
• Eliminate mercury emissions from power plants and industry.

Mercury is a very dangerous neurotoxin; even exposures to low levels can permanently damage the brain and nervous system and cause behavioral changes. People are most commonly exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish, and New Hampshire has a fish consumption advisory for all freshwater in the state.

According to a 2000 study by the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 12 women of childbearing age is at risk of having newborns with neurological problems due to mercury exposure.

The Path of Mercury - From thermometer to fetus

When products containing mercury are burned (1, 2), mercury is released into the atmosphere. The mercury then settles into water where it is absorbed by fish (3) that may be ingested by humans (4, 5)

Mercury impacts New Hampshire's children

Brochure (pdf) from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services on mercury and other pollutants found in fish in the state.

Mercury impacts New Hampshire wildlife

The Effects of Mercury on Common Loons in New Hampshire, Harry Vogel, Executive Director, Loon Preservation Committee of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire Evers, D.C. 2001.

Assessing the potential impacts of methylmercury on the Common Loon in southern New Hampshire - Report BRI 2001-04. BioDiversity Research Institute, Falmouth, Maine. ((pdf)

Mercury Connections: The extent and effects of mercury pollution in northeastern North America (pdf)

Mercury in New Hampshire's Freshwater Fish

Volunteer Sampling Program for Mercury in Fish

The current focus of the New Hampshire Zero Mercury Campaign is to pass mercury products legislation, implement strong pollution control standards for in-state coal fired power plants, and to prevent mercury exposure by promoting effective health warnings.