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Mercury emissions rise in Illinois
Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants is increasing in Illinois even as it declines nationwide, a troubling trend for the state because emissions of the toxic metal tend to fall back to earth close to the source.
The amount of mercury blown into the air by the state's coal plants jumped by 7 percent last year, according to a Tribune analysis of newly released federal data on industrial pollution. By contrast, mercury emissions from all U.S. power plants declined by 4 percent.
Only one other state, Michigan, recorded a larger increase in pounds released. Texas tied Illinois for the second largest, but emissions declined in 28 other states, including Indiana, Ohio, Georgia and several others that rely heavily on coal to generate electricity.
The increases in Illinois and several other states can be attributed to power companies' burning more high-mercury coal in 2008, without equipment to filter out the poisonous byproduct.