Religious Use of Mercury Endangering Latino and Caribbean Communities

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Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:05:02 GMT

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Religious Use of Mercury Endangering Latino and Caribbean

Communities

 

Bush Greenwatch

 

March 29, 2005

 

Religious Use of Mercury Endangering Latino and Caribbean Communities

 

While mercury contamination caused by coal-fired power plants

continues to make headlines, government agencies have glossed over an

even more direct form of mercury poisoning.

 

Dr. Arnold P. Wendorff, director of the New York-based Mercury

Poisoning Project, has urged both the Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) and the New York State and City health departments to address

the religious use of mercury in Latino communities in New York City.

 

But despite his 15-year campaign, Dr. Wendorff told BushGreenwatch

that the government agencies have yet to " substantively address the

issue. "

 

In many Latino and Caribbean communities, mercury has long been used

in religious ceremonies associated with the Voodoo, Santeria,

Espiritismo and Palo traditions of Caribbean origin. During these

ceremonies, mercury, called azogue by practitioners, is sprinkled

around the home, sometimes near a child's crib, or outside the front

door of an apartment. The idea is to repel evil spirits.

 

Some 47,000 capsules of mercury are sold each year in local stores--

called botanicas -- scattered throughout the Bronx. Such widespread

distribution could contaminate up to 13,000 homes.

 

A survey of 203 adult residents of New York City found that 44 percent

of Caribbean respondents, and 27 percent of Latin American respondents

reported having used mercury in magico-religious ceremonies.

 

Following a ceremony, mercury vapor can remain in households for

years, with severely harmful health consequences. A mere .7 grams of

mercury can emit substantial levels of mercury vapor for over 15

years-- and these ceremonies often use up to 10 grams of mercury. [1]

 

Inhalation of mercury vapor is one of the most direct means of

exposure, as the human body absorbs 80% of mercury inhaled. [2] Even

residents who do not practice these ceremonies may suffer health

consequences; mercury vapor can permeate cracks in floors and escape

into hallways.

 

Frustrated over the lack of response from the EPA and the New York

City Health Department, Dr. Wendorff filed a new complaint with the

EPA's Office of the Inspector General on February 7th, but the Agency

has yet to respond.

 

The EPA and New York State and City health departments, however, are

not the only branches of government to brush off the issue.

 

Wendorff has lobbied several members of Congress. He says they were

initially receptive to his pleas, but became discouraged upon

recognizing the complexity of the problem.

 

###

 

SOURCES:

[1] Hidden Danger, NRDC report, Oct. 20, 2004.

[2] Public Health Crisis in the Low-Income Community, Vital Signs,

Winter 2003.

 

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