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Mercury Pollution: Why It
It’ss a
Problem; What’s Being Done About
It; What You Can Do To Help
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S.
Office of Research and Standards
Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection
Co-Chair, New England Governors & Eastern
Canadian Premiers Mercury Task Force
Sharon Weber
MassDEP, Senior Technical Advisor
November 10, 2009
Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Worcester, MA
What Iss Mercury
W
e cu y
Anyway?
¾ In many
products
¾Used as
reagents
¾Type in
fish
¾ Volatile/ well
absorbed if
inhaled
¾Toxic
¾Very toxic
¾ Toxic
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Why Is Mercury A Serious
Problem in MA and Globally?
y
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
1. It’s Very Toxic
¾ Can damage nervous system; kidneys;
immune system; cardiovascular system.
¾ The developing brains of the fetus/children
especially sensitive
Š >400,000 newborns per year at risk in U.S
eachh year
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
2. Mercury Bioaccumulates in
Fish
9Concentrations in fish can be >1 million
times higher than in water
9Mercury rarely an issue in drinking water
3. Mercury Persists
9Air transport and deposition
4. Contamination Is Widespread
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
5. Wildlife Also At Risk
Loons and other fish
eating birds
Songbirds
Otters/mink
Polar Bears
Amphibians
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Mercury Sources and Cycling Simplified
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
What Are We Doing and Is It
Working?
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
New England Governors and Eastern
Canadian Premiers Mercury Action
Plan
¾Adopted in June 1998 by the region’s top
ppolitical leaders
¾Goals
ŠBy
By 2003: 50% or greater reduction in
emissions in the NE region
ŠBy
By 2010: 75% reduction
ŠLong-term: virtual elimination
¾Six Action Categories/45 Specific Elements
C. Mark
Smith
PhD,
2003.2009
C. Mark
Smith
Ph.D.,
M.S.MS.
MADEP
Reducing Mercury Pollution
Addressing all major source categories
¾ Trash
T h incinerators
i i
- 3X more stringent vs USEPA: >85% reduction
¾M
Medical
di l waste
t incinerators
i i
t
- 10X more stringent vs EPA: >95% reduction
¾ Coal-fired
C l fi d power plants
l t
- strongest requirements: 95% control by 10/2012
¾ Dental sector
- Amalgam separators required
¾ Comprehensive mercury products legislation
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Overall Results -- The Mercury Is
Falling
¾From mid-1990’s baseline to 2007
(est )
(est.)
9Regional emissions down > 55%
9MA emissions
i i
down
d
> 70%
¾Next milestone: 2010 75% reduction
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Modeled Mercury Deposition
D
Decreased
d
Pre Action Plan (ug/m2)
Post Action Plan (ug/m2)
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Are Mercury Fish Levels Improving?
Long-term Fish Monitoring Lakes
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Data Indicate Improvement In
M
Mercury
Levels
L l In
I Biota
Bi t
¾MA fish monitoring data demonstrates
¾
statistically significant reductions in
mercury levels in freshwater fish
¾Preliminary CT data similar
¾Mercury levels in loons also lower
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Progress
• Mercury emissions way down: 70% in MA
since mid 1990s
• Mercury deposition down: big decrease in
“hotspot”
• Fish mercury
y levels down significantly
g
y ((15% 25%)
• Encouraging results but --- levels still too high
• Further reductions needed: national; global;
l l
local
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
What Else Can We Do?
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Take Steps to Limit Exposures
Follow fish consumption advisories
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/environmental/e
xposure/statewide_fish_advisory_poster.pdf
http://db.state.ma.us/dph/fishadvisory/
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
To Further Limit Exposures
¾ Find out what mercury added products
you may have at home or work.
work
¾ Handle these carefully to minimize
breakage.
breakage
¾ Cleanup any small mercury spills
carefully
f ll
http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/stypes/spill.htm
¾ For large
l
spills:
ill get professional
f i l help.
h l
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Many Products Contain AddedMercury
Fluorescent
light
bulbs
Some button
cell batteries
Themostats
Thermometers
High intensity
lighting
Sphygmomanometers
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
To Help Reduce Mercury Pollution
9 Purchase and use mercury-free
alternatives where possible
9 Recycle end-of-life mercury products
9 Get mercury out of schools (most
have already done this)
http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/
mercury/schools/
9 Conserve energy
9 Support mercury reduction programs
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009
Lessons Learned
• Research and monitoring critical to
id tif problems
identify
bl
• Ditto for documenting progress
• Pollutants that are persistent,
bioaccumulate and toxic,, especially
p
y to
children, should be priorities
• Comprehensive cross media approaches
needed for these PBTs
• Federal action not sufficient
sufficient– big role for
the states
C. Mark Smith Ph.D., M.S. MADEP 2009