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As the MOU Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) representative, I have
been asked for forward this information. This piece is a bit long, but
important. It is a bit messy as I copied and pasted this information from the
original document.
Tom Bell
Mercury Workshop and Forum
Walter J. Breckenridge Chapter House
8816 West River Road
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, 55444
Saturday August 20, 2005
Free!
We need you to attend a FREE Mercury workshop and forum at the Walter J.
Breckenridge Chapter House in Brooklyn Park on Saturday August 20. The
workshop will run from 8:45am through 2:00pm and include speakers and attendees
from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Izaak Walton League, and
legislative representatives.
*Mercury pollution is a serious problem. All of Minnesota's lakes and rivers
have some levels of mercury contamination. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that
causes learning and developmental disabilities in children. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that one in six women of
childbearing age have mercury in their bodies at levels that may adversely
affect their unborn child. This could affect up to 630,000 newborns in the
U.S. each year.
Minnesota and other states with many lakes are especially aware of mercury
pollution because one of the most serious ways people are exposed to mercury is
through eating contaminated fish. Mercury can damage human health because it is
toxic to the nervous system - the brain and spinal cord and particularly the
developing nervous system of a fetus or young child. And it doesn't take much
mercury.
Mercury's effects can be very subtle. Adults who have been exposed to too much
methylmercury may begin to experience trembling hands and numbness or tingling
in their lips, tongues, fingers or toes. These effects can begin long after the
exposure occurred. At higher exposures, walking could be affected, as well as
vision, speech and hearing. In sufficient quantities, methylmercury can be
fatal.
The greatest risk, however, is for fetuses and young children because their
nervous systems are still developing. They are four or five times more
sensitive to mercury than adults. Damage occurring before birth or in infancy
can cause a child to be late in beginning to walk and talk and may cause
lifelong learning problems. Unborn children can be seriously affected even
though the methylmercury causes no symptoms in their mothers.
*Portions of this text have been taken from the MN PCA Website.
Fish are the main source of food for many birds and other animals, and mercury
can seriously damage the health of these species. Loons, eagles, otters, mink,
kingfishers and ospreys eat large quantities of fish. Because these predators
rely on speed and coordination to obtain food, mercury may be particularly
hazardous to these animals. Research indicates that the following
environmental effects are occurring: Minnesota loons are accumulating so much
mercury that it may be affecting their ability to reproduce. Elevated levels of
mercury have been found in Minnesota's mink and otters. Walleye reproduction
may be impaired by the fish's exposure to mercury.
Agenda
8:30am 8:55am Registration and Welcome - Juice and Rolls provided
8:55am 9:00am Sarah Welch/John Rust, Izaak Walton League
Introduction/Logistics
9:00am 9:45am Kathleen Schuler - Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy
The Health Effects of Mercury in the
Environment
9:45am 10:30am Carol Hubbard - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Clancy the Mercury finding Dog
10:30am 11:15am Sarah Welch, Midwest Office of the Izaak Walton League
Mercury released by coal fired Power Plants
11:15am 12:15 Lunch - Provided courtesy of the Walter J. Breckenridge
Chapter
12:15 1:00pm Anna Tilman - Professor and Environmental Consultant,
Ontario Canada
Atmospheric Mercury Pathways across
International Borders
1:00pm 1:45pm Ann Seha - Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency
Current Issues of Mercury in Minnesotas
air
Registration Information:
Please pre-register so we can get an estimated count of the number of
attendees. Call or E-mail: John Rust
763-424-7973 or 651-635-5930 [email protected]
--
Tom Bell
5868 Pioneer Road South
Saint Paul Park MN 55071
651 459-4150
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<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=1>As the
MOU Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) representative, I have been asked
for forward this information. This piece is a bit long, but important. It is a
bit messy as I copied and pasted this information from the original
document.</FONT></SPAN></H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt"><FONT face=Arial size=1></FONT></SPAN> </H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt"><FONT face=Arial size=1>Tom Bell</FONT></SPAN></H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt"></SPAN> </H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt">Mercury Workshop and Forum<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns
= "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Walter
J. Breckenridge Chapter House<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:Street><st1:address><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">8816
West River Road</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT:
normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><st1:place><st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE:
12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Brooklyn Park</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">,
</SPAN><st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Minnesota</SPAN></st1:State><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">,
</SPAN><st1:PostalCode><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">55444</SPAN></st1:PostalCode></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H4>
<H4 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><st1:date
Month="8" Day="20" Year="2005"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Saturday August
20, 2005</SPAN></st1:date><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H4>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Free!</B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"></B> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman">We need you to attend a FREE
Mercury workshop and forum at the Walter J. Breckenridge Chapter House in
<st1:City><st1:place>Brooklyn Park</st1:place></st1:City> on Saturday August
20.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The workshop will run from
<st1:time Hour="8" Minute="45">8:45am</st1:time> through <st1:time Hour="14"
Minute="0">2:00pm</st1:time> and include speakers and attendees from the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Izaak Walton League, and legislative
representatives. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">*Mercury pollution is a serious problem.
All of <st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota</st1:place></st1:State>'s lakes and
rivers have some levels of mercury contamination. Mercury is a potent
neurotoxin that causes learning and developmental disabilities in
children. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that
one in six women of childbearing age have mercury in their bodies at levels
that may adversely affect their unborn child. This could affect up to
630,000 newborns in the
<st1:country-region><st1:place>U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> each
year.<BR><SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN><BR><st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota</st1:place></st1:State>
and other states with many lakes are especially aware of mercury pollution
because one of the most serious ways people are exposed to mercury is through
eating contaminated fish. Mercury can damage human health because it is toxic
to the nervous syst
em - the brain and spinal cord and particularly the developing nervous
system of a fetus or young child. And it doesn't take much mercury. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Mercury's effects can be very subtle. Adults
who have been exposed to too much methylmercury may begin to experience
trembling hands and numbness or tingling in their lips, tongues, fingers or
toes. These effects can begin long after the exposure occurred. At higher
exposures, walking could be affected, as well as vision, speech and hearing. In
sufficient quantities, methylmercury can be fatal. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">The greatest risk, however, is for fetuses and
young children because their nervous systems are still developing. They are
four or five times more sensitive to mercury than adults. Damage occurring
before birth or in infancy can cause a child to be late in beginning to walk
and talk and may cause lifelong learning problems. Unborn children can be
seriously affected even though the methylmercury causes no symptoms in their
mothers. </FONT></P>
<P><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml"
/><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t202 path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe" o:spt="202"
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id=_x0000_s1026 style="MARGIN-TOP: 125.45pt; Z-INDEX: 1; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt;
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type="#_x0000_t202"><v:textbox style="mso-next-textbox: #_x0000_s1026">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8;
BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">*Portions of this text have been taken from the
MN PCA Website.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></v:textbox><?xml:namespace
prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" /><w:wrap
type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><A name=environment></A><FONT face="Times New
Roman">Fish are the main source of food for many birds and other animals, and
mercury can seriously damage the health of these species. Loons, eagles,
otters, mink, kingfishers and ospreys eat large quantities of fish. Because
these predators rely on speed and coordination to obtain food, mercury may be
particularly hazardous to these animals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Research indicates that the following environmental effects are
occurring: <st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota</st1:place></st1:State> loons are
accumulating so much mercury that it may be affecting their ability to
reproduce. Elevated
levels of mercury have been found in
<st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota</st1:place></st1:State>'s mink and otters.
Walleye reproduction may be impaired by the fish's exposure to mercury. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><U><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New
Roman">Agenda <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></U></H3>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><st1:time
Hour="8" Minute="30"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">8:30am
8:55am</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Registration and Welcome - Juice and Rolls provided
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">8:55am 9:00am <SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
1"> </SPAN>Sarah Welch/John Rust, Izaak
Walton League Introduction/Logistics<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">9:00am 9:45am <SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
1"> </SPAN>Kathleen Schuler - Institute for
Agriculture and Trade Policy<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
2">
</SPAN>The Health Effects of Mercury in the Environment <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><st1:time
Hour="9" Minute="45"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">9:45am
10:30am</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Carol Hubbard -
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
2">
</SPAN>Clancy the Mercury finding Dog<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">10:30am 11:15am <SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
1"> </SPAN>Sarah Welch, </SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond">Midwest</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> Office
of the Izaak Walton League <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
2">
</SPAN>Mercury released by coal fired Power Plants <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><st1:time
Hour="11" Minute="15"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond">11:15am</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">
</SPAN><st1:time Hour="12" Minute="15"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond">12:15</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Lunch - Provided courtesy of the Walter J. Breckenridge Chapter
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:time Hour="12"
Minute="15"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">12:15
1:00pm</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Anna Tilman - Professor and Environmental
</SPAN><st1:place><st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond">Consultant</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">,
</SPAN><st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond">Ontario</SPAN></st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">
</SPAN><st1:country-region><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond">Canada</SPAN></st1:country-region></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
3">
</SPAN>Atmospheric Mercury Pathways across International Borders
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><st1:time
Hour="13" Minute="0"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">1:00pm
1:45pm</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Ann Seha -
Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
2">
</SPAN>Current Issues of Mercury in </SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Minnesota</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">s air </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"></SPAN> </P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
Garamond">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE:
15pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Registration
Information:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New
Roman">Please pre-register so we can get an estimated count of the number of
attendees. Call or E-mail:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>John
Rust <BR>763-424-7973<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>or<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>651-635-5930
</FONT><A href="mailto:[email protected]";><FONT face="Times New
Roman">[email protected]</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT:
-1in"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P></DIV>
<DIV class=signature id=signature>--<BR>Tom Bell <BR>5868 Pioneer Road South
<BR>Saint Paul Park MN 55071 <BR>651 459-4150</DIV></body></html>
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