Transcript City of Gastonia

City of Gastonia
Mercury Awareness
Mercury Issues
In 1998 The City of Gastonia was
experiencing occasional mercury
violations at both of their Wastewater
Treatment Plants.
Any detection of mercury was considered
to be too much.
Initial Efforts
Initially we focused our efforts on
educating the area dentist about the
harms of mercury in the
environment through annual
presentation with help from the
North Carolina Division of
Pollution Prevention and
Environmental Assistance.
Dentists were targeted because
dental offices are considered to be a
point source contributor of mercury
dischargers.
Community Efforts
In 2002 we expanded our efforts
to include the community.
The most effective way to deal
with mercury issues is to
eliminate or reduce it’s
discharge at the source, which
includes removal from the
community.
July 13, 2002
 The City held it’s first
Mercury Collection Day
and Thermometer
Exchange Event on
July 13, 2002. Residents
brought in mercury
containing items to be
recycled. In exchange
for their participation,
they received a free non
mercury thermometer.
GOAL of Event
 The goal of this event was to remove mercury
containing items from the environment for proper
disposal.
PURPOSE of Event
 The event was held for 2 purposes:
1) Public health and environmental awareness of
mercury.
2) Educate the Community regarding the removal and
proper disposal of mercury containing items.
Public Awareness
The public awareness campaign consist of the
following:
 News Articles in the Gaston Gazette
 Government Television Broadcast
 Flyers and Email Distributions
Mercury Collection Event
 The event represented the first step in our
campaign to motivate residents to replace mercury
containing items with non mercury substitutes.
What is Mercury?
 Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is a metallic
element which is liquid at room temperature.
Mercury flows in shiny, silver droplets with high
surface tension.
Where is Mercury found?
Mercury is released into the atmosphere by:
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Volcanic eruptions
Groundwater seepage,
Evaporation from Oceans
Human Activities -Combustion of fossil fuels and
incineration of municipal and medical waste; as well as
improper disposal of mercury-containing items
Once released into the environment, mercury can be recirculated through the air, soils and water for hundreds of
years.
Why should we care about Mercury?
 Metallic mercury is relatively non-toxic, but other
forms of mercury are threats to the public health.
 When metallic mercury is released into the
environment, bacteria can convert it into methyl
mercury, a potent neurotoxin.
 Larger organisms consume the bacteria, fish
consume the organisms and humans consume fish.
Methyl mercury becomes more concentrated as it
moves up the food chain making consumption
unsafe for birds and mammals, including humans.
Metallic Mercury Cycle
Metallic Hg
Methyl Hg
Bacteria
Methyl Mercury
 Humans consume food sources
which contain methyl mercury.
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In high concentrations, Mercury is
capable of damaging the adult central
nervous system and brain.
Manufactured items containing Mercury
In the following common household products:
 Mercury thermometers
 Barometers
 Fluorescent light bulbs
 Electrical switches
 Dental fillings
 Button cell batteries
 Batteries (produced before 1991)
 Paints (manufactured before 1990)
 Sneaker that light up
Event Summary
 The Mercury Collection
Day and Thermometer
Exchange event removed
898 mercury-containing
items from the
environment for proper
disposal-recycling.
Event Summary
 The 4 containers of free
liquid mercury had been
kept by 4 residents for 20,
25, 30 and 70 years before
being brought in for
disposal-recycling.
The container of liquid
mercury showed above
had been kept by a
resident for 70 years. The
one below had been kept
for 25 years.
HISTORY
The City of Gastonia is the first
City in North Carolina to conduct
a Mercury Collection Day AND
A Thermometer Exchange
Program.
The Town of Tryon, North
Carolina was the first to hold a
Mercury Collection Day. They
removed 175 pounds of mercury
containing items.
Sponsors
The City of Gastonia would like to thank the following sponsors:
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North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
North Carolina Division of Pollution
Prevention and Environmental
Assistance
R.G. Medical Diagnostics
American & Efird
Crompton Corporation (Reine M.
Smirz)
CRS Gastonia
Firestone
George Weston Bakeries Inc.
Danaher Tool Group
Industrial Electroplating Company,
Inc.
James P. McCarthy, DMD
Jerry Marshall Gunter, DDSPA
Kevin Monroe, DDS
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Lowry Dentistry
Noveon
Pediatric Dental Care (Charles W.
Conner, DDS)
Porta-Jon of the Piedmont, Inc.
RADICISPANDEX CORP.
Sashae Enterprises
Stabilus
Target
Town of Ranlo
Valley Proteins Inc.
Wal-Mart
Clarence Morris
The Gaston Gazette
Future Events
 Due to the success of the
event, it is now an open
event. Residents who would
like to recycle mercury
containing items like
thermometers, button cell
batteries or thermostats in
exchange for a Free nonmercury thermometer,
contact Janet Maddox at 704854-6672 or
[email protected]
CASE STUDY
City of Gastonia-Mercury Collection /
Thermometer Exchange Event on The
N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention
and Environmental Assistance
(DPPEA) Website
www.p2pays.org/mercury
QUESTIONS ?