The Continuing Information People Send

Every time I start to think that maybe this is just "a scare", I get more information sent from enlightened folks. Then I reflect on how many "conservatives" laughed their hearts out at "Earth Day", and scoffed at Global Warming, voted against Environmental Protection acts, and actively blocked even the smallest of efforts if they in ANY way impacted revenues of anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Inoperative mercury mines fingered as a major source of mercury contamination in California waters
By Tim Stephens
Santa Cruz Currents Online Magazine


UCSC researchers collected water quality data at San Carlos Creek, which flows past the inoperative New Idria mercury mine.
The New Idria mercury mine near Pinnacles National Monument is one of dozens of inoperative mercury mines in the Coast Ranges of California. It had one of the longest periods of operation (from 1854 to 1972) and was the second largest mercury producer in North America. Now, UCSC researchers have measured significant amounts of toxic mercury leaching into a creek that flows past the mine site. ......
Read their entire article on line:
http://www.ucsc.edu/currents/00-01/11-06/pollution.html

Most chilling is the following:
"Preliminary results from other mine sites indicate that inoperative mercury mines are a major source of mercury pollution in bodies of water such as San Francisco Bay that consistently exceed water quality standards for the toxic element, Flegal said.........An important question not answered by this study is how far the mercury travels downstream from the mine. Studies in other locations have shown that metals from acid mine drainage can travel hundreds of miles downstream from their source, ...... But Ganguli said the amount that gets to the bay is probably insignificant compared to mercury inputs from sources much closer to the bay, such as the New Almaden mine in the Santa Cruz Mountains near San Jose. ...........Abu-Saba, who is working on regulations to control mercury pollution in San Francisco Bay, said he is convinced that the New Almaden mine is the biggest ongoing source of mercury in the bay."

More Facts on Mercury and YOUR life

Information provided by: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency,
www.epa.state.oh.us


Mercury in Your Home

Mercury is used in a wide variety of household products, including paint, thermometers, thermostats, batteries, fluorescent lamps, disinfectants, antiseptics, diuretics and preservatives. These items release mercury into the environment and home when broken, mishandled or disposed. Proper care is important when dealing with mercury-containing products. If spilled, mercury absorbs into many household materials while slowly evaporating into the air over time, allowing for exposure. Knowing what products and items contain mercury and handling them properly will limit the risk of mercury exposure. Common products often have a simple and environmentally friendly alternative. Some examples are listed below:
Thermometers - Mercury is used in thermometers because it expands and contracts evenly with temperature changes. Existing mercury-containing thermometers are safely recycled at the nearest recycling facility. Check with your local solid waste management district for local options. Alternatives include the electronic (digital) or red alcohol thermometers.

Household switches (Thermostats) - Mercury conducts electricity and is used in many household and appliance switches. They are used in temperature-sensitive and mechanical (tilt) switches. Many of these switches are inside the appliance. Examples of appliances that have mercury switches include thermostats, clothing irons and top loading freezers and washing machines. Some products, like thermostats are recycled through local recycling companies and new equipment vendors. Mechanical and electronic switches are available in mercury-free versions.
Household Lamps - Fluorescent, high intensity discharge (HID) and neon lamps contain mercury, often in vaporform. Mercury is released when bulbs are broken or incinerated. Fluorescent lamps aregood energy savers, using up to 50 percent less electricity than incandescent lights. This energy savings reduces mercury emissions from power plants. Alternatives are labeled as low mercury lamps and often can be recognized by their green endcaps.
Batteries - Before 1980, most batteries used in homes contained mercury. Current mercury batteries are "button" shaped and are used in hearing aids, watches and other items requiring a small battery. In the last decade the United States battery industry achieved a 99 percent reduction in mercury by using alternative materials. Silver oxide, zinc-air, and alkaline batteries are the best alternatives for replacing batteries produced before 1994.
Paints - Latex paint produced before 1992 had large amounts of mercury to prevent fungus growth. Mercury vapors were released when paint was applied. Use latex paint manufactured after 1992.


Old Chemistry Sets and Toys - Children's chemistry sets were once sold with liquid mercury. Some toys contain a drop of mercury that is moved through a maze, called a mercury maze. Check chemistry sets and toys to be sure they are mercury-free.Lighted
Athletic Shoes - Some athletic shoes with flashing lights in the soles contain mercury. Some states have banned the sale of these shoes. Newer shoes are mercury-free.
Pesticides - Fungicides and biocides produced before 1994 used mercury toxins to kill fungus, weeds and other pests. Most new pesticides are mercury-free.
Clothing Irons - Some irons have an automatic shut-off switch containing mercury. Irons with mercury-free automatic shut-off switches are available.
Antiseptics - Mercurochrome is a skin antiseptic used to treat cuts and abrasions. It is not commonly used. Mercury-free alternatives include Neosporin and Mycin. Thimerosal is used in antiseptic creams and as preservatives in pharmaceutical solutions including contact lens solutions. Mercury-free products are substituted, when available. Talk to your pharmacist about alternatives.
Blood Pressure Gauges - Home blood pressure gauges contain almost 1.5 pounds of mercury. An aneroid blood-ressure unit is a mercury-free option.


Barometers - A barometer is an instrument used to measure pressure in the atmosphere that contains liquid mercury. A Bourdon tube gauge is an alternative to mercury-containing barometers.

Microwave Ovens - Mercury vapor bulbs were used in older microwave ovens. However, new models do not contain mercury.

Just a Nasty Little Update on Mercury

Karen Wetterhahn (1949-1997) was a well-known professor of chemistry at Dartmouth College specializing in toxic metal exposure. On August 14, 1996 while working with an organic mercury compound called dimethylmercury, she spilled a drop or two on her latex glove. Several months later, she noticed some neurologic symptoms such as loss of balance and slurred speech. She was admitted to the hospital, where it was discovered that the single exposure to dimethylmercury had raised her blood mercury level to 80 times the lethal dose. Despite aggressive chelation therapy, she fell into a coma and died a few months later, less than a year after her initial exposure. Her death, despite use of gloves, a fume hood, and standard safety procedures, shocked her chemistry department. They tested various safety gloves against dimethylmercury, apparently for the first time ever, and found that most of them were penetrated in seconds. Dimethylmercury was in fairly wide use as a standard for calibrating diagnostic instruments. The discovery of its extreme toxicity and danger is directly due to Karen Wetterhahn's unfortunate accident. OSHA recommendations and MSDSes were changed in consequence and use of dimethylmercury has been highly discouraged. The irony of her death, from the very agents that she specialized in, makes her death particularly poignant. Culled from: wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wetterhahn

NOW: Go get your kids (and yourself!) tested, will you please????