Press Herald Online



Related links

Readers, leaders respond to Portland Newspapers' mercury series

By Dieter Bradbury
Staff Writer
©Copyright 1997 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Newspaper readers and political leaders have reacted to the issues raised in ''The Mercury Menace,'' a four-part series on mercury pollution published in the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram.

We asked readers to tell us what they think about the series by calling, writing or sending e-mail messages. Here is a sample of what they had to say:

  • ''It is very important that the public is made aware of the silent threats to both the health of the environment and the health of the public,'' said Jason Crawley. ''It is incredibly sad that the state of our Maine waters prevents the healthful consumption of fish.

    ''I would be interested in learning how a company can legally dump hundreds of pounds of mercury into the environment every year. Please continue to provide articles on Maine's environment.''

  • ''Great series on mercury pollution and the sources in our fresh waters,'' said Roger P. Cole. ''One observation: You cite batteries as a contributing source of mercury in the waste stream. In fact, (batteries are) the largest source of heavy metals in landfills. . . . Is Maine's contribution to the battery waste stream any greater than other states?''

  • James S. Smith Jr. of Gorham said he found the series to be ''sensational, scary and unbalanced. I am sure that journalism of this kind sells, but does it really provide a public service?

    ''Did you consider other sources of mercury to the environment besides industrial activity? According to the activists interviewed, only human activities are worth mentioning because we can control these sources . . .''

  • Said another reader, K.L. Howard: ''Well done. And thank you. I hope reports like this on the threat mercury (and other toxins) pose to all forms of life will begin to get the attention of the general public, as it should.

    ''It frustrates me greatly to know that so many individuals use and/or let themselves be used by the power of the dollar.''

  • Pam Person of Bucksport said, ''Thank you for the excellent series on mercury. Not only are the articles filled with important and up-to-date information, the backup information on the Web is really helpful. I particularly appreciate the lakes information and 'links' to other sites.''

  • And from Richard Parker of Camden: ''Kudos . . . for your top-notch report on mercury pollution. I especially like the way you've pulled all the pieces of the story together - the nature and background of the threat; the EPA study; the counterattack from the coal, power and fishing interests; the predictably shameful response of the Congress generally; and, the particulars of Maine's delegation; the toxic effects on the beloved loon.

    ''Your mercury report is journalism at its best, and its appearance in a mainstream daily gives me some hope that we will at last awake to the realities of our destructive economy.''

    Some of Maine's political leaders also responded.

    Rep. Thomas Allen, a Democrat, said he will make a presentation on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, using material from the newspaper, to raise congressional awareness of the mercury problem.

    His presentation, still unscheduled, will be televised nationally on C-SPAN, a cable channel that presents congressional proceedings live.

    Democratic Rep. John Baldacci, after an interview on mercury last summer, became a co-sponsor last July of a House resolution calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to transmit to Congress a key report on mercury.

    The report is expected to lead to new regulations to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants, a major source of mercury pollution. Allen also has signed the resolution.

    - Dieter Bradbury

    • Original content in this site by Lori Haugen, graphics by Kathy Jungjohann, Guy Gannett New Media. Questions or comments? E-mail us.


    Mercury's toll on nature | Politics and pollution
    What mercury can do to you | One polluter's story
    HOME | Related links | To comment on this series

    © Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.