Mercury Poisoning (cont.)
Recycling and Disposal
EPA encourages the recycling of mercury-containing products rather than
disposing of them in regular household trash. Recycling of mercury-containing
products is one of the best ways to help prevent mercury releases to the
environment by keeping these products out of landfills and incinerators.
Many states and local agencies have developed
collection/exchange programs
for mercury-containing devices, such as thermometers, manometers, and
thermostats, and
recycling programs for fluorescent light bulbs. Some counties
and cities also have household hazardous waste collection programs. For
information about these programs, contact your local officials to find out when
and where a collection will be held in your area.
Spills and Cleanup
Mercury is used in a variety of consumer products such as thermometers and
fluorescent bulbs. If you accidentally break a mercury-containing product during
use, or improperly dispose of such products, they will release mercury vapors
that are harmful to human and ecological health.
Spills - Information on what to do, and what never to do, if you spill
mercury.
Mercury-Containing Products
Elemental mercury has properties that have led to its use in many different
products and industrial sectors. While some manufacturers have reduced or
eliminated their use of mercury in products, there are still many consumer items
in the marketplace that contain mercury. EPA encourages individuals,
organizations and businesses to use non-mercury alternatives and to recycle
unused mercury-containing products whenever possible.
Consumer and Commercial Products - This Web page provides more extensive
information on mercury-containing products, plus links to related information
from other federal agencies, state environmental agencies, and non-governmental
organizations.
EPA's Database on Mercury-Containing Products and Alternatives - This
searchable database contains publicly available information on consumer and
commercial products that contain mercury, and also information on non-mercury
alternatives. This is a Windows database designed to be downloaded to operate on
an individual computer. The primary source of information on mercury-containing
products is the IMERC
Mercury-added Products Database, which is discussed below.
EPA supplements the IMERC data with publicly available information on additional
mercury-containing products. Information on non-mercury alternatives is gathered
from a variety of public sources, including industry associations,
non-governmental organizations, numerous Web sites and published reports. The
information is updated annually.
Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) Mercury-Added
Products Database - The IMERC database is managed by the Northeast Waste
Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA). It presents information on: (1) the
amount and purpose of mercury in specific products that are sold in eight IMERC-member
states; (2) the total amount of mercury in these products sold nationally in a
given year; and (3) the manufacturers of these products. The information is
submitted to IMERC by or on behalf of product manufacturers in compliance with
laws in the eight states of Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Notification requirements have
been in effect for products manufactured or distributed in these states
beginning in January 2001. The information is updated every three years.
Where You Live
Where you live - Mercury can be found almost anywhere. On this page, you will find a list of
links to information about mercury in your home, community, state, region, and
the world.
SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Last Editorial Review: 12/18/2008
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