Help Prevent Mercury Pollution April 20, 2022
The City of Coos Bay has new National Pollutant Discharge Permits for their wastewater treatment plants issued by the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. As with many cities across the nation, a mercury minimization plan is part of the permit. Mercury is commonly found in wastewater and this plan will help reduce the amounts of mercury in our wastewater. Part of the plan is public education to help reduce the amount of mercury entering the wastewater system. Sometimes we think mercury is only found in old items and objects not in regular use. Although mercury use has decreased, there are still some common products that contain mercury.
Mercury is an element that has many uses. Mercury never breaks down; it evaporates easily and travels long distances in the atmosphere. About 30% of mercury in the atmosphere comes from natural sources such as volcanoes and forest fires. The remaining 70% of mercury is a result of human activities, including mining, use of mercury products and manufacturing activities. Each of us must do our part to keep mercury out of the environment. When mercury is deposited into waterways, bacteria converts it to methyl mercury. Methyl mercury accumulates in algae and is eaten by small fish which in turn are eaten by larger fish.
What can you do to help prevent mercury pollution?
- Use appropriate disposal methods or recycle mercury-containing products
- Learn about common products containing mercury:
- Thermometers with silver-colored liquid inside
- Thermostat – non-electric
- Fluorescent and other mercury vapor lighting – HD (high intensity discharge), metal halide, high-pressure sodium and neon bulbs.
- Automotive headlamps – blue tint when lit
- Pilot light sensors in some gas appliances
- Gauges – barometers, manometers, blood pressure and vacuum gages with silver-colored liquid
- Switches and relays in some chest freezers, pre-1972 washing machines, sump and bilge pumps, electric space heaters, silent light switches, vehicles, and farm equipment
- Clothes irons with automatic or tilt shut-offs
- Elemental mercury – silver-colored liquid metal sometimes found in children’s chemistry sets.
- Vintage toys – toy drawing screens and mercury maze games
- LA Gear athletics shoes – made before 1997 with flashing lights in soles
- Batteries – mercuric oxide and some alkaline batteries
- Paint – latex manufactured before 1990, some oil base-paints; check the label
- Thimerosal or merbromin – in some antibacterial products
Never pour mercury down the drain and do not throw away in the trash. Please recycle appropriately and help prevent mercury from entering into the waterways.