Women worried about mercury contamination and their health can get a free test to see how much of the substance is in their bodies.
All it takes is a couple of inches of hair.
The Sierra Club Illinois has been offering the free tests in recent weeks at salons throughout the state. The final testing event in Chicago will be Monday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Cut it Out Salon, 1524 W. 18th St. Tests will be offered to the first 20 people at each site.
The purpose: to track mercury contamination, particularly in women of childbearing age, said Jack Darin, director of Sierra Club Illinois. Sierra Club, along with Greenpeace, is collecting data from a number of states. The information will be used in a study conducted by the Environmental Quality Institute at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.
Mercury pollution is a byproduct of coal-fired power plants. In Illinois, coal-fired power plants are the largest contributors to mercury pollution. The poisonous substance ends up in fish. Consumption of too much contaminated fish can lead to health problems.
More Top Picks Best Dice Towers For Tabletop Gaming
“We just want people to be aware of what kind of fish to eat and how often to eat it,” Darin said.
Hair samples, about two inches cut from near the scalp, are sent to a lab. Participants get the results in three weeks.