Mercury From Chinese Coal Use Pollutes Oregon's Willamette River

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.27.06
Business & Politics (news)

willamette_river.jpg

Via the Oregonian , we learn that “The inky smoke belched by chimneys in Chinese cities such as Linfen and Datong contains mercury, a metal linked to fetal and child development problems. Trace amounts of the poison can take less than a week to reach Oregon, where research suggests that about one-fifth of the mercury entering the Willamette River comes from abroad -- increasingly from China.” No doubt the same thing is happening along much of the west coast of Canada, which is why China’s sanctioning of coal to liquid technology to produce transportation fuel is directly significant to North Americans, and why it is so important to help China become more reliant on efficient processes and products. Wondering how those salmon get mercury contamination? Herein lies a partial answer. Engagement on a post-Kyoto international agreement looks ever more important. Photo credit: Willamette River Keepers

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Comments (7)

we can do so much to help the environment but we don't because people are afraid of what others will think but really people will be proud of the stuff we do

jump to top Anonymous says:

We can do so much to help the environment but we don't because people are afraid of what others will think but really people will be proud of the stuff we do.

Kiana Lowell age 11

jump to top Anonymous says:

i think somebody needs to clean all the rivers the are FILTHY I MEAN DESCOSTING i dont want to go in them beacuse you could get sick or sometihing SO thats what i think


Dylan M Age 12 S******** OR

jump to top Dylan M says:

i think that we need to do something about pollution everywhere not just in rivers. we can do so much but we chose not to. if we don't do anything then we will soon run out of clean water. i know you all know this but try to DO it because we need you to.
Kiana Lowell age 11

jump to top kiana l says:

i think somebody needs to clean all the rivers the are FILTHY I MEAN DESCOSTING i dont want to go in them beacuse you could get sick or sometihing SO thats what i think


Dylan M Age 12 S******** OR
THE RIVERS are very SICK i hate them

jump to top Dylan M says:

This is true and is one reason why I say the U.S. can never sign on to the Kyoto Protocol

jump to top Jeff Aiken says:

i love this state but i ahte all the people that pollute it! its bs!
we all need to do somthing about but no one does because there all a bunch of a-holes

jump to top Jessi says:

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