Mercury

Water
When mercury enters water and is absorbed by fish and animals that eat the fish, the toxicity is intensified. The main source of mercury in people comes from eating fish. The single largest source of mercury pollution is coal burning power plants.

The FDA and EPA issued a joint consumer advisory about mercury in fish and shellfish. To read the report Click Here

The "safe" consumption levels as reported in this report are in question. What really is a "safe" level on consumption. The Environmental Working Group who focuses on environmental investigations has this to say: Click Here

Fluorescent lamps
Fluorescent lamps are used because they are more energy-efficient and have a much longer life than incandescent lamps. They are the best choice, but they also contain mercury, which is a toxic chemical and classified as hazardous waste. Dangerous mercury concentrations are building up in fish, wild life and humans throughout the US. It is recommended to purchase fluorescent lamps with the lowest mercury content, and to recycle the lamps at the end of their lives to prevent releasing more mercury into the environment.

Many products are classified as hazardous waste when they are disposed of at the end of their useful life. These products contain materials that are corrosive, flammable, or toxic. Some of the toxic chemicals that qualify products as hazardous, such as lead and mercury, are persistent and bioaccumulative, meaning they remain in the environment indefinitely and accumulate in and harm living things. When products containing these toxic compounds are disposed of in landfills, the toxic chemicals can leach into underground drinking water supplies. (Inform Inc. fact sheet: Purchasing for Pollution Prevention, informinc.org)

620 million fluorescent lamps are discarded annually in the US, releasing from 2 to 4 tons of mercury per year. (Michael Aucott "Release of Mercury from Broken Fluorescent Bulbs," Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 53, February 2003.)

EPA Press Release 06/28/99
EPA today announced changes to the hazardous waste rules that apply to fluorescent lamps containing mercury. The new rule will protect public health and the environment by making recycling of fluorescent bulbs easier and cheaper. Fluorescent bulbs that are not recycled will continue to be treated with the same disposal safeguards that apply to all hazardous wastes.

What can you do?
Choose the lowest-mercury lamps.

All mercury-containing lamps should be recycled instead of thrown away at the end of their life. Take care not to break the lamps during transport and choose a qualified recycler.

Seattle, WA recycle at:
Ecolights Northwest
Post Office Box 94291
Seattle, Wa 98124-6591
Bus: (206) 343-1247
Fax: (206) 343-7445

Search for a recycler in your area:
Go to Nema's web site: Click here