In recent years, we have made great headway against injury to our children by lead. We now aggressively prevent levels of lead poisoning that caused neurological damage but were accepted as unavoidable not so many years ago.

It is time we reach this same level of control with another heavy metal: mercury.

The mercury producers of North Carolina have begun to make progress in reducing production. The technology exists to do this quickly so our environment (our lakes, fish, etc.) can begin to recover. Prolonging production only prolongs the time to recovery.

Let North Carolinians continue to lead the country in environmental improvement and encourage the Environmental Management Commission to aggressively implement the U.S. EPA rules for mercury control.

Teresa Bratton
Greensboro