Mercury

Mercury is an element that was used for decades in thermometers and other products. Unfortunately, mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can affect the brain and nervous system. Fetuses and young children are the most vulnerable to the toxic effects of mercury. Mercury in a mother’s body passes to the fetus and may accumulate there. Children exposed to even small amounts of mercury in utero can have impairments in attention, memory and language skills. Children poisoned by mercury may develop problems of their nervous and digestive systems, and kidney damage.

When mercury is released to the land or air, it ultimately ends up in the water, and once in the water, it increases in concentration as it moves up the food chain and accumulates in fish and other living things.

People are most directly exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. Just a gram of mercury can make the fish in a 20-acre lake unsafe to eat. Because of mercury contamination, the Oregon Health Division has issued fish consumption advisories for 12 water bodies, including the entire mainstem of the Willamette River.

Fortunately, there are plenty of good alternatives to mercury-containing products, such as digital thermometers.

Also, here is a link to the Environmental Protection Agencies guidelines on fish consumption. Also the Oregon Health Division has guidance on fish consumption with their brochure [PDF] entitled "An Expectant Mother's Guide to Eating Fish in Oregon..."

Reducing Mercury in Oregon's Environment

OEC has taken the lead to help Oregon phase out persistent poisons. Our work has focused on eliminating the discharge of mercury, one of the most toxic substances found in our environment, and the cause of numerous fish consumption advisories in lakes and rivers across Oregon.

OEC convened a multi-stakeholder Mercury Solution Team to develop a set of strategies to reduce mercury pollution. The team's recommendations are summarized in a 2001 report entitled: Mercury On the Road to Zero. [PDF 1.3 MB]

In 2001, OEC was instrumental in passing the Mercury Reduction Act, significantly reducing sources of mercury pollution from consumer products such as thermostats and thermometers.

OEC continues to work toward zero discharge of mercury, with the help of business partners and involved citizens. Here are a few ways we're doing that:

The Toxics Reduction through Energy Efficiency for Boilers [PDF] project demostrated that Oregon schools and many businesses can together save well over $1 million a year and reduce mercury emissions by 14 pounds a year just by keeping their boilers in tune.

The Mercury "Switch Out" project encourages drivers to take their cars to more than 100 participating auto repair shops around Oregon, where mercury-containing hood and trunk switches are replaced for free. We're working with Northwest Automotive Trades Association (NATA) and AAA of Oregon/Idaho in partnership on this project.

Click here to find a shop in your area that will replace your mercury switch for FREE!

Promoting Fluorescent Lamp Recycling. Find out more about how to set up a recycling program for spent fluorescent and mercury lighting in your business or building.

By demonstrating the feasibility of achieving these goals for mercury, OEC hopes to establish models for phasing out other persistent poisons.