The two faces of Mercury

Innocent Jennifer:

The problem is that two interest groups are fighting to control the debate. On the one side, industry-hating Greens are hyping the dangers of mercury as part of a campaign to insert more regulations into the Clean Air Act. After all, some of the mercury in the world’s water supply is a result of contamination by power plants.
On the other side, the food industry is looking out for its own. Some of these groups are out to convince Americans that there’s nothing to be worried about. In the end, consumers should be thoughtful and educated. By examining the facts and not overreacting, we can have our fish and eat it too. ...
The agencies offered three common-sense recommendations that will allow women and children to “receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.” These recommendations are what doctors often hand to their pregnancy-minded patients.

Allowing for the possibility that some guidelines are grounded in sound science may represent either a giant leap for Clownhall or this might be the last piece Jennifer is allowed to post. Or it might just be a foil:


out comes cold calculating Jennifer:

Armed with these basic facts, you’ll be able to debunk most of the scare reports yourself. For instance, when you hear that a Greenpeace report has found that “one in five women of childbearing age that were tested have mercury levels exceeding the EPA’s recommended limit,” you’ll be able to ask: “How much were the levels exceeded – 1% or 800%?”

'Hey, what's 1 measly percent?' provides a solid basis of argumentation in the conservative mind.

Let’s look at what else the media is missing:

A new study of Seychelles Islands indicates that mothers who ate a lot of fish during pregnancy had children who outperformed other kids whose mothers ate less fish.

1989 new? Either way, one contrarian study out of 227 where genetics and other dietary habits of Indian ocean peoples may be involved does not consensus make. Maybe that's why the "MSM" don't mention it quite often enough to please utility company interests.

Alaska’s Public Health Department tested the hair of eight 550-year-old Alaskan mummies for mercury and found levels averaging twice the blood-mercury concentration of today’s Alaskans. (I love the Center for Consumer Freedom’s response: “Perhaps those paleo-Inuits should have spent their time picketing mercury-spewing undersea volcanoes instead of fishing.”)

I love their response as well: Inuits 550 years ago had a life expectancy of, like how long? And I'm sure they all went on to college.

Mercury emissions issues were settled years ago, after a long process of determining where safe limits might lie. But like zombies, no matter how much you beat them down, they just keep coming back.