According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, the amount of mercury emitted into the air by coal-fired power plants in Illinois increased by 7% in 2008, despite a 4% decline nationwide.
Specifically, "mercury emissions in Illinois rose 7 percent to 4,466 pounds in 2008 from 4,181 pounds in 2007. Mercury emissions fell 4 percent nationally in 2008 to 88,871 pounds, down from 92,907 ...