Poisoning Our Ocenas

Starting December 21, 2011, EPA has began enforcing laws against Big Coal and Big Oil companies to moderate mercury and other hazardous by products from burning fossil fuel. The Mercury and Toxic Air Standard is a 20 year mandate that will set mercury and toxic air pollutants emission limits for any coal and oil burn plants. Besides mercury there are other toxic metals such as arsenic, chromium, and nickel are expelled into the air as a result of fossil fuel burning. These toxic metals end up in our waterways and contaminates the fish and seafood we frequently eat. “It’s no surprise that women of childbearing age are urged not to eat salmon and shrimp. High accumulated mercury levels in these and other frequently consumed species can be devastating to the unborn and infants” (Radford, 2011). This concern for our mothers and future generations has resulted in a record breaking 500,000 Americans reaching out to EPA for support.

I would probably consider this to be both a moral and ethical issue. For one we should want this to be put into effect just because it is our planet and we should want to take care of it. This is becoming a growing concern nowadays with global warming proving to be a big concern. We as humans should do our best to take care of it since it has provided us with so much that we need to survive.

This rule will save lives. According to EPA, the rule will prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, and 130,000 asthma attacks each year, as well as almost 3,000 cases of chronic bronchitis yearly. Emergency room visits will drop by almost 6,000! (Radford, 2011).

That in itself explains why this is a moral issue it would be extremely immoral and unethical to not want to help saves lives of fellow humans, when they could be your family and friends that are affected. This whole issue actually has a direct impact on both myself and the community I live in. I am from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and