Why should I be concerned?

Mercury is one of a number of persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals (PBTs) that are being targeted by Washington State to reduce their presence in the environment. Mercury can cause serious ecological and health problems when released to the environment through human activities.

  Children are most sensitive to mercury poisoning during early development to age six. Mercury spilled from broken thermometers or toys collects in carpeting, furniture or other porous surfaces. Children can be exposed and seriously poisoned by breathing invisible vapors released to the air from these contaminated materials.

  Mercury is toxic to the 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 shakiness, tremors, numbness in the fingers and toes, loss of muscle control, memory loss and kidney disease in children and adults. One of the primary environmental routes for human exposure to methylmercury (a more toxic form of mercury) is from eating contaminated fish. Unborn children are most at risk to methylmercury poisoning. In an aquatic environment, liquid mercury can be converted into methylmercury, a form of mercury that builds up in the tissue of certain species of wildlife, including game fish. Methylmercury in large fish can be hundreds of thousands of times greater than that in the surrounding water. Information about Fish Consumption Advisories is on page 5.

Do you use any of these items containing

liquid mercury?

Laboratory Equipment Mercury Gas Flow Regulators

Fluorescent Lamps Mercury Manometers

Mercury Auto Switches Mercury Necklaces

Mercury Flame Sensors Mercury Silent Wall Switches

Mercury Float Switches Mercury Thermometers

Mercury Flow Meters Mercury Thermostats

Liquid Mercury…

Also known as quicksilver, metallic or elemental mercury, is an odorless, silvery colored

liquid with a metallic luster. Due to its unique physical properties, it is commonly used

in thousands of household and commercial products and industrial processes.

If you do, be careful to keep them out of the trash or drain when they reach the end of their useful life or if spilled or broken. When mercury-containing debris is placed in the trash or poured down the drain, the mercury doesn’t disappear. It finds its way into the environment from waste incinerators, landfills, or wastewater treatment facilities. Minimizing mercury releases from all sources is important. It takes all

of us to manage mercury.

Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program Publication #01-04-022, Revised December 2003