Physicians come out against coal-fired plants

[Guest guest]

And they claim thimerosal is ok. Maybe a letter to the AMA and/or AAP praising these good docs, then asking how thimerosal is blatantly ignored as part of the "cumulative picture"? http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2006/02/28/news_localstate/news_local_state.3.txt Physicians come out against coal-fired plants By Sandy Times-News writer TWIN FALLS -- More than 100 physicians -- 107 to be exact -- in Twin Falls and Jerome counties have signed a petition in support of a moratorium on the construction of certain coal-fired plants."We went personally to all the physicians," said Dr. McClusky, an active member of the Keep Magic Valley Magic group that has come out against California-based Sempra Energy's proposal to build a coal-fired plant in Jerome County.McClusky said he and retired physician Dr. Harry Brumbach went office to office to ask doctors to sign the petition. They had no problem getting signatures. Between 80 and 90 percent of physicians in those two counties readily signed the petition. Others couldn't be reached because they were out of town on business or vacations, McClusky said.So why are physicians so concerned? In one word -- mercury."Mercury can cause neurological problems in the developing brains and

nervous systems of infants," McClusky said.McClusky said of special concern are pregnant and nursing mothers. Mercury can be transferred to the fetus and through the milk of nursing mothers, he said. And once it's there, it's there to stay."Not only is it toxic, but it's cumulative," McClusky said. "It doesn't leave your system. It's permanently there. I don't care what they say about the levels of mercury. Once mercury gets out there, it's there."In fact, physicians are not allowed to use anything with mercury in their offices, McClusky said. Mercury thermometers are long gone, as are mercury blood pressure cuffs.McClusky said he also got 381 signatures from others in the health care field as well as patients."We're not arguing about water or land issues, but safety issues," McClusky said. "In the long term, we really don't know what mercury is going to do, but its potential is huge."Also coming out against Sempra is the Idaho Medical

Association's board of trustees. On Friday, the board unanimously agreed to support Rep. Sharon Block's bill for a two-year moratorium on construction of a coal-fired plant in Jerome County, said Bob Seehusen, chief executive officer of the Idaho Medical Association. Her bill will be debated Thursday in the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee."The board agreed with over 100 signatures from physicians in the Magic Valley that there are public health concerns about the Sempra plant in Jerome County," Seehusen said Monday. "The board is lending its support to our physician members in the Magic Valley."Times-News writer Sandy can be reached at 735-3264 or by e-mail at smiller@....

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[Guest guest]

That's right, . What about the mercury pollution they generate?

Double standard: " Their mercury is bad, ours is good " ?

Lenny

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> And they claim thimerosal is ok. Maybe a letter to the AMA and/or

AAP praising these good docs, then asking how thimerosal is blatantly

ignored as part of the " cumulative picture " ?

>

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http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2006/02/28/news_localstate/news_local_state.\

3.txt

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> Physicians come out against coal-fired plants

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