Art Dungan, President
The Chlorine Institute
1300 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22209

RE: Chlorine plants that use mercury

Dear Mr. Dungan,

I urge you to deny Chlorine Institute membership to any company that will not commit to conversion away from mercury. Your 210-member association has allowed rampant mercury pollution by six U.S. member companies that insist on relying on dirty and dangerous mercury technology even though mercury-free technology is available and used widely here in the United States and elsewhere in the world.

Although coal-fired power plants are the most notorious source of toxic mercury pollution to our lakes, streams and oceans, the chemical industry is just as culpable. These six companies still use an outdated and completely unnecessary mercury process to make chlorine gas and lye, which are then used to make paper products, detergents, soaps and plastics.

Chlorine plants that use mercury are among the world's largest sources of mercury contamination. Air quality tests around these plants show extremely high mercury levels. As you know, much of this mercury winds up in our air and water and, eventually, in the fish that ends up on our dinner tables or in our tuna sandwiches. Once it's in our bodies, mercury can damage normal brain activity and nervous system functions. It is especially dangerous for developing infants and small children and can cause decreased motor skills and learning disabilities at even low levels of exposure.

It's time for the entire chlorine industry to enter the 21st century and eliminate mercury from the chlorine manufacturing process. Please make this happen by refusing to allow Chlorine Institute membership to the six offending companies unless they commit to and implement a prompt conversion away from mercury use. I will join millions of concerned Americans in continuing to closely monitor your actions in this extremely vital matter.

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