The Trump administration has rolled back a key air-pollution protection targeting mercury, one of the most toxic substances on earth. This move reverses the 2024 policy under President Biden, which had lowered allowable mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, and restores previous, less restrictive limits. Prior to this rollback, Trump had already issued exemptions to dozens of power plants, delaying compliance with the stricter 2024 standards.
The Biden-era policy had increased monitoring and reporting requirements, particularly targeting lignite, the most polluting form of coal, which contains the highest mercury levels. Mercury released into the air can transform into methylmercury, a compound that accumulates in the food chain. Scientific research shows even minimal exposure to methylmercury poses significant health risks, especially to children and pregnant people, as it irreversibly damages the central nervous system and developing brains.
Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups highlight mercury as a global human rights concern due to its severe and lasting impact on human health. Reducing mercury emissions in the US had been a major public health achievement, reflecting the country’s commitments under the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury. The rollback represents a setback for environmental and public health protections, particularly affecting maternal and child health.
While the Environmental Protection Agency head, Lee Zeldin, has praised the deregulatory measures, experts warn that the loosening of mercury standards favors the coal industry at the expense of long-term public health and environmental safety.
