Mamet and Mercury

"My understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer," was playwright David Mamet's insensitive comment about Jeremy Piven's early departure from Mamet's Broadway revival of his play, Speed-the-Plow. Mamet's quote appeared in the New York Times (December 19, 2008); he was said to have made that remark to Daily Variety.

While there may be a behind-the-scenes back story that prompted Mamet to make this remark, his comment is wildly inappropriate in that it makes light of a very serious environmental problem. The Times article noted that Piven was said to consume fish a couple of times a day, but one does not need to eat fish that often to be the victim of mercury poisoning.

Some may recall that mercury used to be considered a potent and helpful medicine. Both Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln are known to have taken mercury for their health. Lewis and Clark carried it as part of their first-aid kit, and mercury was long used as a treatment for syphilis, and those who grew up in the 1950s and '60s may remember dabbing cuts and scrapes with mercurochrome. it has been used as a preservative in childhood vaccines. For a long time, mercury was accepted as a cure-all with many purposes.

But history has long told another story. Fountains of "quicksilver" (mercury) used to be prominently featured in Spanish palaces (Spain produces about 60 percent of the world's mercury). No one realized that when palace residents suffered symptoms such as tremors, drooling, and failing health that they were actually suffering from mercury poisoning. The true dangers of mercury did not become fully understood until the 1950s when a community in Japan had the bad luck to be downstream of a corporation that dumped mercury into the water. "Dancing cats" (felines that showed erratic behavior) were the first sign of a problem, but eventually more than 3,000 residents showed the effects of mercury poisoning. Forty-six of them died of it.

In August 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that fish in virtually all U.S. lakes and rivers are contaminated, and in early 2005, a study in the journal Ecotoxicology found high levels of mercury in songbirds, salamanders, and other New England wildlife previously thought to be unaffected. This was discouraging news because it had been thought that the mercury poisonings were limited to species that consumed the toxin directly from the water.

More than thirty years after the alarm was first raised, mercury accumulation in fish remains the chief source of exposure to the toxic metal in the United States, and the single-largest course of mercury emissions is from coal-fired plants. Until 2001 factory and power plant emissions were governed by the Clean Air Act, which required plants to have the best available technology in place by 2009. The improvements were projected to lower emissions by 90 percent. The Bush administration changed course, removing the power plants from Clean Air Act jurisdiction and proposing the first regulatory effort to cut the emissions with a plan to reduce output by 70 percent within thirteen years. In addition, the EPA also allows the power companies to buy pollution credits instead of reducing emission levels.

Earlier in 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion in a case that was initiated by 15 states and other groups, challenging the EPA's decision to "delist" mercury as a hazardous air pollutant. While this--and the arrival of the Obama administration--makes it likely that a more stringent mercury standard will be adopted, EPA rulemaking takes time.

In the meantime, mercury poisoning is real. Heed the advisories from the Food and Drug Administration: pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children should avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish entirely and limit consumption of albacore tuna (canned white tuna and tuna steaks) to 6 ounces (one meal) per week. (These fish are at the top of the food chain and contain higher levels of mercury because they consume smaller fish in polluted streams.) Canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, and catfish are said to be tolerable if you eat no more than 12 ounces per week.

Also write to your congresspeople and say we need laws that reduce our exposure to mercury.

And Jeremy Piven, feel better!

Comments

[beyd49]

Thank you Duckcrackers. No one is saying that the mercury problem isn't real, in general. Write the article---get the info out there.

But lay off Mamet. It seems a pretty sure bet that he knew more than Ms. Kelly about the specifics of this case.

And the issue should be raised that Mr. Piven is at the very least foolish for eating sushi twice a day. Could we say that most sushi eaters know better than to indulge this much?

[rektruax]

How dare he make a joke! Maybe we should throw Mamet's chakra out of whack with some bad vibes...

[duckcrackers]

I think you need to ease up. If you want to talk about the seriousness of mercury poisoning that's fine, but using Mamet's remarks as a launching pad is not a very good place to start. My guess is that Mamet wouldn't have uttered such a thoughtless remark unless he knew for sure that Piven was lying. it's all about the backstory with this incident. In fact, more people are rallying to Mamet's defense which should tell you something about Piven.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

To catch people's interest, topics need to tie into the news. A post on mercury posting probably would have been a big "pass" for everyone... I would be surprised if Jane Brody at the Times and many of the other health writers across the nation don't eventually pick up on what people should know about mercury poisoning. How can they not? The topic was raised by a well-known TV actor and people want information.
If a few people are enlightened about this topic as a result of this string of comments, then the purpose was well-served.
And if you've had a family member who has suffered mercury poisoning then "lightening up" about it is not an appropriate response.

[duckcrackers]

I didn't say lighten up, I said ease up. As in ease up on Mamet. You criticized him for his statement, and then used that criticism to jump into the seriousness of mercury poisoning. I think you could have launched intot the subject seamlessly without utilizing Mamet's barb as a point of contection. By the way, you write as if no one in the general public has any clue about mercury poisoning. I think that is a false premise. I and many people I know have been aware for years about the dangers of eating too much fish. The media has had a number of stories on this subject, and they didn't need to be tied to a celebrity in order to get me or much of the public to read them. Anway, my main point was lay off Mamet, when in actuality we don't know the real story behind Piven's leaving the play.

[RaisingAwareness]

Seeing my little dog in excruciating pain and nearly die because of a mercury-laden vaccine, I know first-hand that mercury is no joking matter. I can't believe any organization dares to call it safe.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for posting.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for posting...
Kate

[NSTS]

Greetings. NSTS is ornithology short-hand for Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. I suspect that your Ecotoxicology article was written by David Evers and others. The BioDiversity Research Institute, www.briloon.org, of Gorham, ME, which Dr. Evers founded, is doing mercury research at sites around the globe. Methyl mercury poses a grave threat to human health and to ecosystem health around the world. The Hg loads found in NSTS blood in central Maine are extraordinary. That the FDA now seemingly prefers the benefits of Omega-3 to the harm of mercury for pregnant females and young children is remarkable.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for the additional info. Evers' article probably was the source. I think it was this study that was so siginficant because it was the first proof that mercury was poisoning more of the environment than originally thought. I think early on it was thought to be limited to the fish who were exposed in the water. Now scientists know that our dirt, our air, our bugs--and therefore our sparrows--are picking up the mercury, primarily from coal-burning plants. Remember, too, the problem is worldwide. Coal-burning in China sends pollutants our way, too.

[NSTS]

Yes, mercury deposition fm coal-burning plants adds much Hg to the environment annually. The Philadelphis Inquirer's recent EPA series touches on mercury pollution: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/20081209_Green_Club_An_EPA_Charade.html The large Hg discharge in Charleston, TN is from an old-chemistry chlorine plant, i.e. out-dated plants which EPA has not required to close and that the owner will not upgrade voluntarily. The Hg contamination in ME came from a closed chlorine plant. Mercury requires an aquatic environment in which to methlyate into its toxic, bio-accumulating form. Recent studies have now shown that methyl mercury can travel significant distances from that environment in the food chain.

[3fingerbrown]

The good news is that a better actor, William H. Macy, will be Piven's replacement come January 11.

[beyd49]

Interesting and useful information, but if you have been paying attention to reports from Broadway professionals, you will know that evidence against Mr. Piven's malady has been piling up. His behavior before this incident has led many to believe that this Mercury poisoning is not as legitimate excuse for his exit from the play. It may have more to do with his "Hollywood short attention span", and may also be influenced by the recent very cold precipitation in New York. In this light, Mr. Mamet's comment is not so out of place.

[LaurieR]

Mr. Piven's particular case aside (he may or may not be lying, we don't know), this is still a serious health issue, and the last thing we need is for people to smirk and snicker when it's brought up... as if it's an imaginary condition. It isn't. The few women who cry rape after having second thoughts about that one-night stand do not negate the seriousness and terrible reality of rape itself. This is no different.

[QueenOfViolets]

Those changes in his behavior could actually have been early signs of mercury poisoning.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

This thread is very helpful on all counts. The recent news from Broadway certainly validates "beyd49's" comment, but not knowing Piven's personality, it is impossible to judge whether he "just wanted out" or whether he really felt bad. How many of us have gone to work with a cold or a virus and just been horrible to the people around us? QueenofViolets makes a good point. And LaurieR's point about not smirking about someone else's illness is right on.

Thank you all.

[mlaiuppa]

They stopped using mercury in thermometers some time ago. I remember when I was a kid we had a glass thermometer with mercury in it. I guess the danger of the glass breaking was too much of a risk.

If Piven has been eating sushi as much as the article states, I'm not surprised his mercury toxic levels are so much higher than average. I'm also not surprised if he's having the symptoms he states. I hope he is getting sound medical treatment and is on the road to recovery.

Mamet better hope he doesn't suffer an ailment that no one believes. That last thing you want on your tombstone is "I told you I was sick."

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Good points... and I think the posts here clearly indicate that a lot of people about mercury poisoning being a reality... but for those who are, consider that even the FDA offers warnings about eating too much fish. Physicians may not routinely screen for this type of thing, but it doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Consider lead poisoning in kids and how that only gradually was acknowledged.
Thanks for posting.

[marignymitch]

I think Mamet's comments are wonderful. Funny and on point. I also think people need to lighten up.

[LaurieR]

I found Mamet's comment to be tasteless, ingorant and offensive. Jeremy Piven aside (as in, he may or may not be telling the truth... we don't know), this is an EXTREMELY serious issue that I am hoping will no longer be swept under the rug as a "crackpot theory" by the incoming administration. Like so many other environmental and health issues have been for 8 years. Thank you for this piece, Kate.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for posting!
Kate

[holisticmom]

Great article. Just wanted to point out that thimerosal is STILL being used in vaccines - the flu vaccine is the worst, but it is still in some childhood vaccines. Please note that pregnant mothers are told to get the flu shot (25 mcg per dose) and then infants are also told to get the shot as well. Also, as recent as last year I saw thimerosal in my husband's eye drops - not sure if that is still allowed, because I found a brand without it and have not looked to see if it is still in other brands.

You have to REQUEST a mercury-free vaccine - and there is still no guarantee it will be mercury-free. They still make the vaccines with the preservative, then "spin" it out, so there are still traces allowed in the "free" versions. Bad stuff, for sure.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Excellent info..thank you for adding!

[blimie]

The official policy used to be for pregnant women to not eat fish because of mercury. The FDA reversed their position and said never mind, go ahead, pregnant women can eat fish. Why advise people to heed the FDA. I would not want any mother and her baby exposed to the stuff.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Actually a really good point! Thank you.

Kate

[MysticInd]

Thank you Kate for your article; very thorough! and a good reminder to be on the look out for these pesty little rules disbanded by the Bush Administration.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for reading... have a good holiday.

[Eudemis]

The adverse health effects of mercury toxicity are still being discovered. People are often unaware of their exposure in vaccines (thimerosal), mercury amalgam fillings, even eye drops into the late 1970s contained a mercury based preservative. Many parents of autistic children believe mercury poisoning plays a role in autism. Mercury tends to accumulate in fatty tissue. That would include the brain. I believe this problem is much more severe and widespread than the general public realizes.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you...I've heard from people who haven't necessarily posted, and I agree...this is not something most people know about. Thank you.
Kate

[Thermodynamics]

The EPA conducted a study of the mercury levels in lake fish in the US. It was called something like "The 400 Lake Survey" and published tissue mercury levels in lake fish referenced to lakes by name. You could know how much mercury was in the big bass in your lake (too much, in most cases, as bass are a top predator).

I downloaded it years ago when I was thinking of fishing in a certain TVA lake. It looks like the Bush EPA has wiped that study. I can't find it anywhere. All I can find are very general fish advisories.