22453: MVilson: Re: 22448: (Hermantin)Sun-Sentinel-Hazardous Ritual (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MVilson@aol.com

This article is very good one because of the simple fact that it brings to light a serious problem that people are facing in our communities. Here in Rockland County NY (Spring Valley), we had to deal with the same concerns about mercury contamination. Our own department of health did not have a good grasp of the situation because the staff was relying on a few leaflets distributed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) without any sound research to back it up. There is still the possibility that landlord may discriminate against our own people assuming that all people of haitian origin use mercury in their religious practice. Consequently there is a potential to contaminate their property. As some may already know, cleaning mercury contamination is very expensive. I do not have the exact figure at this time but in the case of a building for example, it may run into many thousands of dollars per apartment. There is truly a need to disseminate this kind of information so people can fully understand the ramification of such practice although I feel very strongly that one has the right to practice their religion.