Presented to the Joint Committee on Natural Resources
May 9, 2001

Chairman Pacheco, Chairman Koczera and members of the committee:

Good morning. My name is Jessica Champness and I am a policy analyst with the Environmental League of Massachusetts. The Environmental League of Massachusetts asks to be recorded in favor of House Bill 3772, "An Act Further Regulating the Use of Mercury Thermometers."

When products containing mercury are discarded, they end up in incinerators. Mercury emitted from incinerators falls out of the air in rain which then pollutes our waterways. An average 500 ton/day municipal waste incinerator operating with typical emission controls, releases approximately 310 pounds of mercury into the atmosphere every year. These emissions may sound small, until you consider that one study estimates that if a 50 milliliter "nip" bottle were filled with mercury it would be enough to pollute 1/7th of all the lakes, ponds and rivers in Massachusetts, approximately 675 water bodies polluted to the point that the fish in them are no longer safe to eat. Mercury is extremely toxic. If a person drank this nip of Jack Daniel's it could temporarily impair them. When a person eats fish contaminated by mercury, they risk nerve damage. If a pregnant woman regularly eats contaminated fish, her fetus can suffer brain damage. In fact, mercury is considered a leading cause of childhood learning disabilities.

This committee has already heard about the dangers of mercury and the problems resulting from contamination through testimony in support of H.2217. The bottom line is that mercury is a significant neurotoxin. The best, safest way to reduce exposure is to get as much out of the waste stream as possible. By acting to ban the production and sale of mercury thermometers within Massachusetts, House Bill 3772 would reduce a major source of contamination in our environment and therefore, in our food and bodies. Since there are viable substitutes and an exemption for medical necessity, this ban will protect the citizens of Massachusetts without cost or hardship. We urge you to issue a f avorable report on the bill as submitted.

The Environmental League of Massachusetts would also like to be recorded in favor of Senate Bill 1115 "An Act to Establish a Commission to Protect Child Health and Development." Since childhood is the time that toxins have the greatest chance to harm and cause permanent illness, we think it makes sense to conduct a study to analyze whether our public policies are protecting our youngest citizens. In addition, we would like to be recorded in favor of Senate Bill 1143 "An Act Establishing Local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers." Local collection centers that are open at least one day a week would make it easier for citizens to properly dispose of their hazardous waste therefore reducing contamination.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.