Mercury

Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that can be released into the environment and can build up in our lakes, rivers, streams, and fish. mercury is released into the environment in a number of way s including from the emissions of power plants and from the illegal disposal of mercury-added products.

The dangers of mercury are well. It can damage the nervous, digestive, respiratory, and immune systems. unborn babies still developing in the womb are particularly vulnerable as prenatal exposure to mercury can impact the child's memory, motor skills, and future ability to learn.

Other adverse health effects from mercury exposure can be tremors, impaired vision and hearing, paralysis, insomnia, and emotional instability. Recent studies suggest that mercury may have no threshold below which some adverse effects do not occur.

We've taken the first steps but we must go further

Vermont has taken many steps to reduce public exposure to mercury. In 2005, the state passed comprehensive legislation to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of discarded mercury-added products. The law bans and/or restricts the sale of certain mercury-added products; prohibits the use of mercury in schools; requires reduction in mercury releases from dental clinics; requires mercury reduction plans from hospitals; clarifies the product labeling requirements for mercury-added products and; bans the discard of mercury-added products in landfills and municipal waste incinerators.

According to the EPA, at least 300,000 newborns each year may have increased risk of learning disabilities associated with in utero exposure to methylmercury

Further legislation passed in 2006 also requires the removal of mercury-added auto switches from end-of-life vehicles prior to crushing. While both pieces of legislation are certainly a step in the right direction, more could still be done to ensure that Vermonter's are protected from exposure to mercury.

 

Quick Facts:

• Mercury causes immune, sensor, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions
• Mercury persists in the environment, does not break down easily, and accumulates in the fatty tissues of living things.
• Mercury has increased in both the air and water more than three fold over the last century.
• Women and children in Vermont cannot eat certain fish from our rivers, lakes, and streams due to the high levels of mercury present in the ecosystem.

Green Lighting

Not All Lamps are Created Equal

The need for energy-efficient lighting has increased the popularity of fluorescent and high intensity discharge lamps. Both types of lighting contain mercury, a

known neurotoxin that can build up in our bodies and the environment.

Benefits of CFLs Although compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) do contain small amounts of mercury, their significant benefits merit their continued use. According to Efficiency Vermont, ENERGY STAR CFLs use 66-75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last 6 to 10 times longer. “If everyone in the country replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would conserve enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year, save more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.” Source: Efficiency Vermont http://www.newbulbintown.com/about/

Mercury used in lamps accounts for roughly 5% of worldwide mercury use and is expected to dramatically increase as inefficient incandescent bulbs are phased out. The amount of mercury contained in a lamp can range anywhere from 2 to 100 milligrams depending on the manufacturer, make, and model.

This wide range of mercury content can be explained by examining methods used to inject mercury into the lamps. New methods are more efficient and better controlled than older techniques which tend to lose more mercury in the production process. These outdated techniques can lose up to one half of the mercury in the process.

Current Collection & Recycling Programs

VT DEC Program

The demand for energy efficient lighting makes the need for an effective recycling infrastructure apparent. Currently, Vermonters can drop off spent
fluorescent bulbs at 71 participating local hardware stores including ACE, True Value, and Do It Best. To date, the program has collected 22,796 CFLs, U-Tube and circle line bulbs, and 351,111 lineal feet for tubes. Unfortunately, the funding for this Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation program is not sustainable and is nearly exhausted.

Efficiency VT

Efficiency Vermont offers free recycling for Vermont residents at select locations throughout the state. However, this program only accepts compact fluorescent bulbs.

Solid Waste Districts

Finally, Vermonters can dispose of mercury-containing lamps at their local solid waste district’s hazardous household waste (HHW) collection sites. However, many HHW facilities are not open year round.

 

Clean up and Disposal

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a boon to your energy bill and to the environment. They use less electricity and burn more efficiently. But this comes with a small but important fact. CFLs contain a minute amount of mercury which, if the bulb is broken, can prove dangerous to you and your family. While the threat of a minor accident should not cause you to stop using these modern marvels, it’s a good idea to be prepared and informed in case one breaks in your home.

Here are some simple things to remember if you break a bulb:

• Ventilate the room by opening all windows and doors leading to the room and leave the room for 15 minutes.
• Don’t use a vacuum cleaner to pick up the piece, as you could spread the mercury throughout the house. Instead , use duct tape to pick up the pieces.
• Once you’ve cleaned up the materials, store them in a plastic bag (double bagged) or a rigid container with a lid.
• Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel.
• Wash your hands.
• Finally, take the trash to your local solid waste district for proper disposal.

These basic steps will help mitigate any problem you’ve had with breakage. For more information on CFLs check out this info sheet by the Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation. You can also learn more about the risks and safe usage of CFLs by reading this report written by our partners at the Mercury Policy Project.

The benefits of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in terms of energy efficiency and cost savings are great.  However, CFLs do contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin that can build up in our bodies and the environment.  Due to their use of mercury, spent CFLs and other mercury-containing bulbs cannot be thrown in the trash.  But don’t worry, properly disposing of these lights is easy.  In fact, many local hardware stores are working with the State to collect used mercury-containing lamps for free.

For more information and to learn how to properly dispose of CFLs and other mercury-containing lamps, click here:

http://www.mercvt.org/dispose/lamprecycleproject.htm

 

OPPERTUNITIES FOR VERMONT

Setting Mercury Content Standards

Efforts have been made to limit the amount of mercury used in lamps. The European Union (EU) has set a 5 milligram limit for compact fluorescent bulbs and a 5 to 10 milligram limit for linear fluorescent lamps. In addition, the EU has begun a process for revising and lowering these limits that should be completed this year.

In the United States, California has broken ground by passing legislation modeled after the EU standard. By January 2010, any lamp manufactured or sold into California must comply with the EU directive. Vermont should follow California’s example and set mercury content standards for lamps.

Establishing a Fair and Convenient Collection Program

Vermont’s current collection programs place the financial burdens squarely on the shoulders of the VT DEC, Efficiency VT, solid waste districts, and ultimately the tax payers. Instead, Vermont should require manufacturers to also share in the responsibility of properly disposing of mercury-containing lamps.

Quick Facts • Mercury used in lamps accounts for roughly 5% of worldwide mercury • The amount of mercury contained in a lamp can range anywhere from 2 to 100 milligrams • Older methods for injecting mercury into lamps can lose up to one half of the mercury in the process • The European Union and California have passed laws limiting the amount of mercury contained in lamps • Current collection programs do not require manufacturers to share in the costs of collecting and recycling spent lamps