Mercury Reduction At Home And At Work

You can protect natural resources and ecosystems by reducing the use of, properly caring for and disposing of mercury products you use in your daily life such as thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent lights and automobile switches. For many of these products there are alternatives that contain less or no mercury. Anything containing mercury should go to the hazardous waste landfill. Explore options in your community for properly managing Household Hazardous Waste http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/collction.htm

You can protect your body by eating lower on the food chain and limiting or avoiding certain types of long-lived predator fish (shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and fresh, frozen or canned tuna.) Studies of fish in lakes, rivers and streams in many states have revealed levels of certain PBTs (PCBs; mercury) that exceed so-called “acceptable” concentrations.

Never use rags, a broom, vacuum cleaner or washing machine to clean up a mercury spill—their use can spread mercury contamination. For emergency mercury spill information call the Washington State (and National) Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222

Remember, we are all downwind of something. Since mercury vapor can be carried long distances in the atmosphere-the effort to reduce mercury contamination will require global cooperation.

Get involved in efforts to remove mercury and other PBTs from your community.

Harmful or helpful? Can mercury be used safely? Should mercury be used at all? Should we recycle mercury or work to eliminate its use and work safely to dispose of existing mercury? The debate about mercury and other PBTs continues.

Mercury based thimerosal has been used to increase the shelf life of vaccines. Whether or not this preservative actually causes neurological disorders in children is unknown, but the evidence suggests no harm has been done. Nearly all vaccines will be thimerosal-free from now on to “be on the safe side”.

Some people are concerned that mercury in “silver” dental fillings might cause harm to human health. These fillings are about half mercury mixed with other metals, notably silver. Some mercury vapor is given off, and some of that vapor gets into the body by breathing or swallowing it.
No study has proven that these fillings cause harm to people. To be on the “safe side,” some people have elected to have their mercury fillings removed.