Students Protest Emission Of Mercury In Water, Air

November 21, 2006

Group wants Pioneer to change

A student dressed as a dolphin flopped around the Quad on Friday

afternoon.

The dolphin and about 12 other students protested the Pioneer

Chemical plant in St. , which manufactures products including

water treatment, plastics and pharmaceuticals.

During Pioneer's production process, mercury enters into the

Mississippi River and evaporates in the air mixing with rain, Jerrica

Crosby, English freshman, said.

Crosby said the protesters are trying to make students and

citizens of the St. area aware of the effects of using mercury

in plants.

" It causes fatigue, tremors and in children it causes autism, "

Crosby said. " It affects motor skills. In some extreme cases it can be

fatal. "

Pioneer Plant manager Gasper said although the plant does

use mercury for necessities, it has decreased the use of mercury over

the years.

Mercury is used to split alkaline from the chlorine, according

to Pioneer's Web site.

" At the St. plant, Pioneer uses mercury - and the proven

mercury cell technology - to manufacture chlorine, an essential

element that helps provide safe drinking water and other products used

every day, including plastics, paper and detergents, " Gasper said.

" Over the years, we have invested in advanced technology to reduce

emissions and improve safety and performance of the plant. "

The protest group said the reductions over the years were not

enough.

The plant still makes up for 27 percent of mercury in Louisiana,

Crosby said.

Before protesting in the Quad on Friday morning, the group went

to St. to protest Pioneer. The protesters presented 500

petition cards to Pioneer representatives, signed mainly by students.

" We got to talk to their safety person, " said campaign manager

Curiel. " The lady today was saying, 'Well this [the mercury

technology] is a new technology,' and I was like, 'But it's from

1894'. It's not new. "

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