Environmental Effects

Mercury can cause devastating effects to wildlife:

Birds hatch fewer eggs, populations shrink Deformities such as missing limbs High mortality in larvae and embryos Altered hormone levels Fish can pass mercury on to humans

Oklahoma depends on fishing as a major part of its tourism and recreation industries. Recreational fishing contributes $196 million a year to our economy. Contaminated fish make our lakes and rivers less attractive to visitors and therefore hurt the Oklahoma economy.

Links:

Mercury and the Environment (http://www.ec.gc.ca/MERCURY/EH/EN/eh-ec.cfm)
Mercury in the Environment (http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/)
Mercury Switch Replacement (http://www.epa.gov/region5/air/mercury/nysdec_hg_switch_replacement_poster.pdf)