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Environmental Progress : Spring 2002
IEPA Plans Expanded Mercury Collecting, Testing
$750,000 study will focus on mercury in water, air
Illinois EPA will use a $750,000 payment
to the state from the Great Lakes Protection Fund to provide mercury collections
for schools and hospitals as well as additional water and air sampling
and testing to better evaluate the sources and concentrations of mercury
in Illinois.
The Agency's first major Mercury Reduction Initiative will include expanded
sampling and more sophisticated laboratory analysis of levels in mercury
in Illinois waterways and additional air monitoring stations to better
determine the sources of mercury released into the air.
Mercury linked to potential health problems
Exposure to mercury potentially can cause nervous system, kidney and
liver damage as well as fetal impairment. The annual state sports fish
consumption advisory recently recommended that pregnant or nursing women,
women of childbearing age and children under age 15 eat no more than one
meal per week of predator fish that are most likely to contain higher
amounts of methylmercury. Fish and other aquatic life bioaccumulate methylmercury
that can be passed along to humans and wildlife that consume contaminated
fish.
"This initiative will provide additional valuable information on sources
of potentially hazardous mercury in our environment and assistance in
safely removing it," Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano said.
Mercury Thermometer Exchanges Held
Events supported Earth Day
2002
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| More than 100 mercury thermometers were traded. |
In an effort to reduce the amount
of mercury found commonly in households, Gov. George Ryan's Green
Government Coordinating Council supported a series of mercury thermometer
exchanges at executive state agencies throughout Illinois this spring.
Mercury, even in small amounts, can significantly impact the environment.
According to U.S. E PA, the mercury in a typical mercury thermometer
(0.7 grams) is enough to contaminate all the fish in a lake with
a 20-acre surface area. If a mercury thermometer breaks and is not
cleaned up properly, the spill can create a potential risk of dangerous
exposure to mercury vapor. Once released, mercury stays in the environment
for a long time.
At the thermometer exchanges, people who brought in mercury fever
thermometers received non-mercury replacements. The replacements
contain Galinstan, a non-toxic blend of gallium, indium and tin
which is safe for the user and the environment.
The first exchange was held at EPA headquarters in Springfield
on Earth Day, April 22, 2002. Director Renee Cipriano, and more
than 100 employees of the agency, traded in thermometers. Other
exchanges have been held at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago,
the Des Plaines and Collinsville regional offices, and the Departments
of Public Aid and Lottery in Springfield. To date, over 250 mercury
thermometers have been collected. Additional exchanges were planned
at the Marion regional office building and the Department of Agriculture
in Springfield.
IEPA also partnered with St. John's Hospital for a citywide exchange
in Springfield. St. John's supplied replacement thermometers while
the agency disposed of the mercury collected. More than 1,300 thermometers
were collected in Springfield.
Illinois EPA and Green Illinois have collected over 108.5 grams
of mercury. Additional information on mercury thermometer collections
or the hazards of mercury can be obtained from the Illinois EPA
Office of Pollution Prevention.
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