Welcome to ProtectBabies.Org, a project of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture).

This site is designed to empower you to take action today to reduce toxic mercury emissions from Pennsylvania's coal-fired power plants.

Toxic mercury pollution from power plants threatens the health of women and their babies. More than 600,000 women of childbearing age nationwide have amounts of mercury in their blood over the level set as safe by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Academy of Sciences. Unsafe levels of mercury in mothers' blood and breast milk can interfere with the proper development of babies' brains and neurological systems and can lead to learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, problems with coordination, lowered IQs and even mental retardation.

Pennsylvania power plants are the second biggest emitters of toxic mercury pollution in the country. The Fish and Boat Commission has issued advisories that cover every lake, river and stream in the state that warns people to limit eating fish caught here.

In August 2004, PennFuture formally filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) on behalf of 10 public health, sporting, women's rights and environmental and conservation organizations asking the EQB to enact a regulation requiring coal-fired power plants to reduce their mercury emissions by 90 percent.

Today more than 60 organizations including the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, the Pennsylvania Parent Teachers Association, the Learning Disabilities Association, and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches have joined in this vital effort.

Unfortunately, legislation has been introduced into both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (HB 2610) and the Pennsylvania Senate (SB 1201) that would stop this important regulation.

Help us protect Pennsylvania's babies.
For more information, follow the links below:
PennFuture Publications on Mercury:
Mercury Reports from Other Environmental Groups:
Penn Future Press Releases:
  • June 27, 2006:Constituents Dismayed by Senator Wayne Fontana's Irresponsible Vote on Harmful Mercury Bill[read more]
  • June 20, 2006: PennFuture Calls State Senate's Passage of Toxic Mercury Bill a Tragic Mistake; Defeat for Pennsylvania's Families and Victory for Polluters Must Not Be Repeated by House[read more]
  • June 6, 2006: Pennsylvania Scientists, Health Care Professionals Join Call for State Regulations on Toxic Mercury Pollution[read more]
  • June 5, 2006: Four out of Five Pennsylvanians Prefer State Plan on Mercury Pollution; 87% Acknowledge that Mercury Hurts Developing Babies[read more]
  • May 17, 2006: PennFuture Hails Vote to Move Ahead with Mercury Regulations to Protect the Health of Mothers and Babies: 17 - 3 Environmental Quality Board Vote Paves the Way for Cuts in Mercury Pollution from Power Plants[read more]
  • April 25, 2006: PennFuture Launches Legislative Campaign with ProtectBabies.org Website and Posters [read more]
  • April 20, 2006: Industry Continues to Use Bogus Information to Gain Support for Poison Mercury Bill; Congressional Research Service Report Shows Truth about Toxic Mercury and its Dangerous Impact on Babies [read more]
  • September 15, 2005: Pennsylvanians Make a Personal Plea to Senator Musto: Our Children's Health Should Be Protected [read more]
  • August 16, 2005: PennFuture Praises EQB for Overwhelming Vote to Reduce Toxic Mercury from Power Plants [read more]
  • August 4, 2005: Parents Make a Personal Plea to Representative Adolph: Our Children's Health Should Be Protected [read more]
  • August 3, 2005: DEP Urged to Stay the Course and Act to Protect Pennsylvanians' Health & Environment from Toxic Mercury; Health, not Politics, Should Govern Pennsylvania Policy, Groups Say [read more]
  • June 16, 2005: PennFuture Calls for DEP to Adopt Maximum Protection for Pennsylvanians' Health in New Mercury Regulations [read more]
  • May 18, 2005: PennFuture Pleased that DEP Intends to Regulate Mercury, Disappointed that DEP Fails to Follow New Jersey's Example PennFuture Will Respond within 30 Days Asking for Tough, Specific Regulations [read more]
  • March 14, 2005: PennFuture Calls Bush Mercury Regulations "Toxic News for Pennsylvania;" Asks for State Action to Protect Citizens' Health, Environment, Economy from Poisonous Mercury [read more]
  • August 9, 2004: PennFuture, Labor, Sporting, Women's Rights and Other Environmental Groups Call for State Action to Protect Pennsylvanians' Health, Environment, Economy from Toxic Mercury [read more]

Letters to the Legislature:

Other Organizations on Protecting Babies from Mercury:


© 2006 Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture.org). All rights reserved.