Most residents of Connecticut pay little attention to either environmental levels of mercury or the state’s former hatmaking industry. These issues are linked, however, and Professor Johan Varekamp has begun to explore the extent of this link and its effect on the area. Varekamp, the chair of earth and environmental sciences department, has recently begun to literally and figuratively unearth Connecticut’s past involvement with the toxic element and its legacy today.
Working with students, Varekamp found high levels of mercury in the Housatonic River. While doing further research near rivers in Danbury, Varekamp stumbled onto that town’s former hatmaking industry. After talking to the citizens of Danbury and much research in the town archives, the local use and impact of mercury was uncovered.
“Really, [the discovery] was through word of mouth,” Varekamp said.
One essential process used in manufacturing hats was called carroting because it required a bright orange-yellow solution of mercury nitrate. This chemical ensured the matting of animal fur fibers to create the necessary material. This process was used from the late 19th century until it was banned in 1941. During that time, mercury was a central part of hatmaking and life in Danbury.
According to Varekamp’s lecture in the earth and environmental lecture series, Danbury’s fame as the “Hatmaking Capital” had a major impact on rivers and the environment in Connecticut. High mercury levels were especially present in the Housatonic River, Still River, and Norwalk River. These levels were increased because the matted felt was produced using steam. This steam dripped into the environment from the walls of the factories, carrying mercury nitrate with it.
According to the US Water News Online, the natural concentration of mercury is about 100 parts per billion (ppb) in soil. The mercury level found by Varekamp and his students exceeded 67,000 ppb near the hat factories and about 25,000 ppb in the soil near a children’s playground.
“We have no evidence that the general public is [now] impacted by the high mercury levels in Danbury soils,” Varekamp said.
A review of his work on UConn’s Sea Grant website suggests, however, that severe storms have the potential to stir up mercury-laden river sediment. This sediment would flow towards the Long Island Sound, contaminating a far wider area than is currently affected. Sea Grant provides funding for research involving coastal conservation.
There are good reasons to be concerned by the potential for mercury exposure. The element has a tremendous impact on the human body. It disrupts the formation of ATP, the body’s primary energy molecule. Without ATP, cells cannot function. This results in tiredness and forgetfulness, according to Varekamp.
The Sea Grant site confirms that mercury poisoning affected Danbury significantly in the early 1930s. Hatters, especially, had symptoms of drooling, hair loss and slurred speech.
“The hatmakers had many nervous ailments and there was what was called the Danbury Shakes [which resulted in] tremors in hands and arms,” Varekamp said.
The phrase “mad as a hatter” originally referred to the collection of neuronal symptoms caused by mercury exposure. Many hatmakers were also incorrectly labeled as alcoholics due to the effects of mercury in their systems.
Currently, Varekamp is planning on conducting an experiment at Wesleyan to investigate the amounts of mercury in the hair of students and faculty. Most mercury exposure occurs through eating fish, but some dental work and medical treatments also use mercury. According to Varekamp, the best method for analyzing mercury levels is to conduct a hair analysis. The mercury in hair is about 250 times the amount found in blood and therefore provides a more accurate estimate.
This study is still pending approval by the University. Varekamp urges the Wesleyan community to become involved, and hopes to have a website dedicated solely to this project available soon. In the meantime, Connecticut residents should be aware that while the hatmaking industry has primarily moved on, the mercury it left behind has not necessarily done the same.
For more information on the Wesleyan mercury research project, please contact Varekamp at jvarekamp@wesleyan.edu.
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