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 Frequently
Asked Questions
The Department of Health has developed a list of frequently
asked questions to assist you in the education of mercury.
The questions have been categorized into targeted audiences
below:
General Questions
Q:
What are the human health effects of mercury exposure?
A: Whether
mercury will affect a person’s health depends on the route and
amount of exposure and who the person is. Health problems
caused by mercury are most serious for the developing fetus and
for young children. Pregnant women who eat fish contaminated
with large amounts of methylmercury may have babies who suffer
permanent damage, such as a learning disability or to their
central nervous system.
Short-term (high mercury concentration) exposure can result in
nausea, shortness of breath, pneumonitis, and bronchitis.
Exposure to high levels of mercury over extended time can result
in tremors, numbness in the fingers and toes, shakiness, loss of
muscle control, memory loss, and kidney disease.
Q:
How can I be
exposed to mercury?
A: Humans are
exposed through these routes:
Q:
Can I prepare fish so I don’t get mercury in my body?
A:
No. There is no special way to cook or prepare fish to remove
mercury. That is why it is important to eat fish low in
mercury. The fish to limit due to mercury are: swordfish,
tuna, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish. Also limit eating
canned albacore tuna.
Q: Can
I be tested for mercury?
A:
A simple hair test can determine the level of mercury stored in
your body. Talk to your doctor or health care provider to
request this hair test.
Q:
Does mercury cause cancer?
A: Based on
human and animal data, the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.
EPA) has classified methyl mercury and mercuric chloride as
“possible” human carcinogens. Mercury has been found to cause
cancer in two animal species, but that evidence is not adequate
to say that it causes cancer in humans.
Q:
Should I use fluorescent lights, since they contain mercury?
A:
Yes. The Washington Department of Health still recommends the
use of fluorescent lights. Because of their energy efficiency,
low heat radiation, and longer lifespan, these bulbs are
preferred over incandescent light bulbs. The key is to handle
them carefully prior to use, during installation, and then to
properly dispose of the bulb at the local household hazardous waste
(HHW) facility. There are now lower-mercury fluorescent lights
available in stores.
Q:
Can I or should I replace my own mercury thermostat with a
programmable thermostat?
A:
Yes. You can replace your own thermostat. When purchasing a new
thermostat, often the thermostat vendor will provide services to
replace the old mercury thermostat. To replace a mercury
thermostat yourself, follow these instructions from the
Northeast Waste Management Official’s Association:
Unplug the electrical connection prior to dismantling. Use a
screwdriver and a pair of wire cutters to remove the entire
thermostat from the wall. Do not attempt to remove the mercury
switches themselves or dismantle the thermostat in any way.
Store the thermostat in a plastic bag and keep from breaking
until you are able to safely dispose of it at a participating
Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) wholesaler/contractor
or at a
local household hazardous waste facility. Follow the instructions included in your new
thermostat for installation.
Q:
What do I do if
I have a mercury spill?
A: Is the
spill smaller than 2 tablespoons? You can clean up a small
mercury spill yourself. The Department of Ecology and
Department of Health have created a brochure to provide guidance
on cleaning up a small mercury spill:
Prevent Mercury Spills. You can also access spill cleanup
information quickly and easily by consulting the
U.S.
EPA’s mercury spill page.
If
more than 2 tablespoons of mercury have been spilled, call 9-1-1
or the Washington Poison Center at 800-222-1222. They can
provide you with more detailed instructions and numbers of
professional spill responders. Here are some rules to remember:
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Do wear gloves, use a plastic bag and several pieces
of paper. Prior to cleaning up a small (< 2 Tablespoons)
spill, put on latex gloves that you can discard. Then use 2
pieces of paper to roll the mercury into one ball if possible,
and then onto the other paper. Then gently tip the ball into
the bag, along with the paper. Seal the bag. Then put that
bag and the gloves in a second sealed bag, and label.
-
Don’t use a vacuum to clean up the mercury. The vacuum
will disperse mercury vapor into the air and increase the
likelihood of human exposure. Use the roller collection
method described above instead if possible.
-
Don’t use household cleaning products to clean up mercury,
particularly products that contain ammonia or chlorine. These
chemicals will react violently with mercury, releasing toxic
gas.
-
Do not use a broom or paintbrush to clean up mercury.
Using a broom or brush will scatter the mercury droplets,
making them harder to find and pick up.
-
Never pour mercury down the drain. Since mercury is
heavier than water, it often accumulates in the S-trap of a
drain and continues to emit harmful vapors.
Spill Reporting Numbers:
Washington Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222
Your local health department:
Locate your local health department though DOH’s map of
local health
districts and departments.
Department of Ecology Spill Contacts
Northwest Regional Office (425) 649-7000
Southwest Regional Office (360) 407-6300
Central Regional Office
(509) 575-2490
Eastern Regional Office
(509) 456-2926
Q:
Where can I get materials to promote mercury recycling in our
area?
A: The
Department of Health provides a number of educational materials
for schools, organizations, local governments, or businesses to
use. To obtain any of the following materials for your
education or outreach project, please contact
the Office of Environmental
Health Assessments, at the Department of Health or toll free
1-877-485-7316:
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Mercury Education Cards
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Mercury Disposal Stickers
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Mercury Consumer Education Flier
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Mercury Education and Reduction Act (MERA) Fact Sheet
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MERA Fact Sheet for Schools
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Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the Hg Symbol
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Mercury-Free Feverscan Thermometers
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Mercury-Free Digital Thermometers
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Thermostat Recycling Project Bin Placement Fact Sheet
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FAQs for the Public
Q:
Where can I find a household hazardous waste (HHW) facility?
A:
Visit the Department of Ecology's
Hazardous Waste Service Providers Web site.
Q:
Do CFLs (those squirrely-shaped) bulbs really have mercury?
A:
Yes. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs do contain mercury. While they
are recommended as an energy-efficient bulb, and they are
recommended over incandescent bulbs, they must be disposed of
properly. Proper disposal means they should be kept unbroken
after use, and transported to your local hazardous waste
facility for proper recycling.
Q:
My child told me he and some kids were playing with mercury.
What should I do?
A: Ask your child
to describe what happened. If the incident is
continuing, you may want to contact the other children’s parents or the
school to alert them to the possibility of a problem. Explain
to your child, that other cases of kids playing with mercury has
resulted in cars and homes being ruined. Some
students and adults have had to go to the hospital when exposed
to mercury. A tiny amount of mercury exposure can cause
life long damage to an unborn child.
FAQs
for Schools
Q:
Why do we need to eliminate mercury from high school science
labs?
A: The 2003
Mercury Education and Reduction Act passed by the Washington
State Legislature requires that by January 1, 2006, schools may
no longer purchase elemental mercury for use in school labs, and
must enact in proper storage and disposal of all
elemental mercury and mercury compounds. Beyond the legal
obligation, mercury is a hazardous chemical that poses potential
health risks to students and staff. Mercury spills in schools
can result in substantial cleanup costs and bad press. Contact
the Washington Department of Ecology’s
Solid
Waste and Financial Assistance Program
or 360-407-6900 to inquire about removing elemental mercury
from your school, or contact your ESD for help on this matter.
Q:
What should schools do with the mercury products we have
collected?
A: Some local
hazardous waste facilities allow schools to bring mercury and
mercury compounds for proper disposal. Call your local facility
to determine their policy.
Contracts for proper collection, disposal and transportation of
hazardous waste exist via the State Purchasing Cooperative,
which many school districts are a member of, and can be found on
the Washington State Department of General Administration
Web site at
http://www.ga.wa.gov. Be aware of the numbers related to mercury
products and hazardous waste disposal and recycling: Contract
11601: Spent lighting, CRT tubes, monitors, televisions,
and other electronic equipment.
Contract 07198:
Hazardous waste disposal and recycling.
Q:
How can we host a thermometer exchange at our school?
A: The nonprofit
group Health Care Without Harm is an excellent resource for
guidance on holding a thermometer exchange. They provide a
web-based brochure full of information for any group or
individual interested in holding a thermometer exchange. The
brochure includes wise guidance along with sample posters,
fliers, and letters. For a limited time, the Department of
Health is providing a starter set of free no-mercury feverscan
thermometers to groups interested in a thermometer exchange.
E-mail the Office of
Environmental Health Assessments
or call toll free, 1-877-485-7316 for a limited supply for your event.
Q:
How can we get health professionals to come to our school to
teach our kids about mercury?
A: The nonprofit
group
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility can
assist a school in setting up health professionals to speak at
your school about mercury and other persistent bioaccumulative
toxins (PBTs). The Department of Health may also assist in
providing a speaker to your school. Contact at DOH
Environment Health, Office of Environmental Health Assessments
toll free at 1-877-485-7316 or e-mail
Office of Environmental
Health Assessments.
FAQs for Businesses
Q:
What items
in my business contain mercury?
A: Businesses may
have a number of products that contain mercury that include, but
are not limited to: fluorescent and high intensity lamps,
thermostats, thermometers, calibrating thermometers, manometers,
convenience switches in cars, flame sensors, and mercury in
commercial/industrial heating and cooling equipment, relay
switches, and barometers. Visit our product page for
descriptions of these products. Guidance and resources for
businesses can be found on DOH’s mercury
in business page.
Q:
How do I get involved in the Thermostat Recycling Corporation’s
“Take Back” project for mercury thermostats?
A:
The Department of Health can assist in setting up a
wholesaler/contractor with a TRC collection bin. For
further information on this project, contact the DOH Office of
Environmental Health Assessments at 1-877-485-7316 or
via e-mail at
Office of Environmental Health Assessments. Or you can contact
TRC directly.
Q:
How do I know if I am a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity
Generator (CE-SQG) or a regulated generator?
A:
The Department of Ecology lays out guidelines for
businesses and entities to be classified as CES-SQG, which may
allow these businesses to use the moderate risk waste facility
to dispose of their mercury containing products. In general, a
business is classified as a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity
Generator (SQG) if it creates less than 220 pounds of hazardous
waste a month and never accumulates more than 2,200 pounds
annually, although certain more dangerous hazardous wastes can
prohibit a business from being classified even if they do not
create more than 220 pounds of hazardous waste. More
information on
EPA’s CE-SQG classification is available from the
Department of Ecology. Businesses should consult with the
Department of Ecology to determine their classification. A
business is classified as a regulated generator if it the limits
exceed the limits for a small quantity generator or produce
certain hazardous wastes. Large businesses must arrange for
proper disposal through a hazardous waste disposal company that
provides certification of collection. The Department of Ecology
provides a searchable database of
hazardous waste service providers on its Web site.
Q:
When does the sale of certain mercury-containing products become
illegal?
A: The sale of
mercury containing thermometers, manometers (such as barometers
or blood pressure gauges), and novelty items like toys, games,
or jewelry becomes illegal on January 1, 2006, in accordance
with the Mercury Education and Reduction Act. For guidance on
complying with MERA law, contact Miles Kuntz (miku461@ecy.wa.gov)
at the Department of Ecology, 360-407-6748.
FAQs for Local Government
Q:
How can I get my local government involved in the Thermostat
Recycling Corporation (TRC) project?
A: Any
interested county may become involved in the TRC program.
Please view a
description of the project and then contact the
Office of Environmental
Health Assessments, 1-877-485-7316 for more
information on how to get involved.
Q:
Can local governments order multiple TRC collection bins to
distribute to wholesalers/contractors?
A: Yes. A couple
of counties have taken this approach to assist contractors and
wholesalers in getting started as soon as they are interested.
Contact the Department of Health to learn more
about purchasing multiple bins at 1-877-485-7316 or
e-mail the
Office
of Environmental Health Assessments.
Q:
How
can I get my local government’s mercury reduction efforts
funded?
A: The
Department of Ecology awards Coordinated Prevention Grants (CPG)
that allow cities and counties to request money for hazardous
waste reduction projects, including mercury collection projects,
a mercury education campaign for the public or an educational
project for students. Additional information is available on
the
Department of Ecology CPG Web site. The Puget Sound Action
Team also provides funds through its
Public
Involvement and Education (PIE) program. Local governments,
organizations, and businesses that operate within the Puget
Sound are eligible for this funding.
Additional Mercury Related
Information
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