Has this been diaried? will delete if it has.
Linky goodness
Sorry to quote the AP on this one.
By JIM ABRAMS
The United States will eventually stop all exports of elemental mercury, a neurotoxin harmful to humans, under legislation sponsored by Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and signed into law by President Bush on Tuesday.
This is great news for the earth.
Under the legislation, the ban on the federal sale and export of elemental mercury will take place immediately. All exports of the substance will be banned as of Jan. 1, 2013. The act provides for a long-term management and storage option for elemental mercury generated by the private sector as of 2010.
America is one of the world's biggest exporters of mercury, which is a major source of largely untreatable pollution. Right now we have waste water treatment programs that address the carbon issues in water (made from humans) and the bacterial issues (mostly chlorination, followed by de-chlorination), but nothing that addresses the heavy metals and all the pharmaceuticals that are dumped into the drain. We simply do not have the technology.
This bill is good for everyone, and is a step towards taking more responsibility for a greener, cleaner planet. Here in Ohio there is a lot of debate on whether to make amalgam separators a part of every dentist's office, just to catch the mercury at one of the most troublesome sources.
Obama sponsored the bill with Sens. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Boxer (D-California) and Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) from the House.