Have you ever wondered where cement comes from? Not many of us do. But you may be curious why we are warned not to eat certain kinds of fish. The reason is mercury, a potent neurotoxin that can cause serious developmental problems in fetuses and young children, and fertility and blood pressure problems in adults. Cement kilns (where huge amounts of rock and limestone are superheated and crushed to make cement) are a big part of the mercury problem. Earthjustice has been working for over a decade to bring about strict rules for mercury emissions from cement kilns. We recently released a report that shows the cement industry is actually spewing twice as much mercury as we thought, which means it's more important than ever to crack down on these kilns -- for the sake of our children, our environment, and ourselves. Learn more below, and please take a moment to sign our petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency to set rules that will protect us from mercury.
Cementing a Toxic Legacy Near You?
View an interactive Google map that summarizes reported and actual mercury emissions from more than a third of all the U.S. cement kilns. Do you live or work near one of the cement kilns featured in our report, "Cementing a Toxic Legacy?" If so, let us know!
Read the Report
We've launched a comprehensive report on mercury pollution from cement kilns. It’s much worse than we thought, with just over 150 kilns pumping about 23,000 pounds of mercury each year! Just 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury can pollute a lake and make fish inedible.
Mercury and Bioaccumulation
People who eat too much mercury-contaminated fish, especially women and children, risk birth defects, learning disabilities, infertility and other ailments. Learn more about how mercury is absorbed by wildlife and humans.
Mercury Emissions from Cement Production
View our interactive diagram to learn how making cement also produces huge amounts of mercury, among other pollutants.
Cement kilns emit more than just mercury. They also release pollutants that spoil the air we breathe and can cause internal organ damage, heart disease, and asthma. This video features Tommy, the son of an Earthjustice client, who developed environmental asthma after moving to Midlothian, TX, the "Cement Capital." Tommy and his family live in the shadow of five cement kilns.
The Word Is Out
We've put up billboards like the one below and advertised in newspapers all over the country. Tens of thousands of people have told the EPA to clean up mercury from cement kilns, and for the first time ever, EPA has promised to deliver. But we need to make sure EPA doesn't give up. Tell them you want toxic mercury out of our environment.
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From Our Blog
For over a decade, Earthjustice has worked for stronger protections against mercury from our nation's cement kilns, partnering along the way with local groups trying to clean up kilns in their own backyards. Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen describes why this work is so important in a post on our blog, Unearthed.
Our efforts to clean up mercury pollution from cement kilns are part of a larger campaign targeting our nation's biggest mercury polluters, which also include power plants and large waste incinerators. Learn more about our campaign to clean up mercury pollution from these sources.
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