Mercury
What is Mercury?
Mercury is a chemical element. Although it is a metal, it is a liquid at room temperature. Its chemical properties make it a useful substance for a variety of electronic devices and industrial applications. Mercury is also highly toxic to humans and as a pollutant, mercury stays in the environment for a very long time.
Find out more information about mercury, know how to make your household mercury-safe and see what effect mercury has on Indiana's environment.
Table of Contents
Where can Mercury be found?
Mercury is often used in everyday household objects so it is important to dispose of them properly. Select one of the objects below to find out more information about mercury and your home:
- Fever thermometers and antiseptic products that contain thimerosal or merbromin.
- Fluorescent lights and Mercury vapor lamps
- Oil-base paint that contains mercury.
- Mercury thermostats.
- Clothes irons.
- Pilot light sensors found in gas appliances such as stoves, furnaces, and water heaters.
- Gauges found in barometers and blood pressure gauges.
- Chest freezers, washing machines, and electric space heaters that contain mercury switches.
- Scientific apparatus, such as gauges and barometers
Why is Mercury a concern?
Mercury is one of the primary pollutants of concern in Indiana because:
- Mercury poisoning can cause irreversible brain, liver, and kidney damage.
- Fetuses and children are the most sensitive to mercury toxicity
- Mercury does not breakdown to less toxic forms in the environment.
- Significant quantities of mercury have been found in many Indiana streams and species of fish in Indiana.
Mercury Related Programs at IDEM
- Fish Consumption Advisories
- The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), with support from Purdue University, collaborate to produce an annual Indiana Fish Consumption Advisory based on the statewide collection and analysis of fish samples for long-lasting contaminants found in fish tissue, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and/or heavy metals (e.g., mercury)
- Mercury Switch Program
- Indiana law requires each motor vehicle recycler to remove all mercury switches from each end of life vehicle when it is received. IDEM will pay you $3.00 for each mercury switch and $5.00 for each ABS G-force sensor or other component containing more than 10 mg of mercury that you recycle through End of Life Vehicle Solutions (ELVS).
- Mercury Reduction Outreach for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW)
- This program provides materials and resources to help you develop and implement a mercury pollutant minimization program plan.
- Mercury Thermostat Reduction and Recycling Pledge Program
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractors can participate in this voluntary program for the free recycling of discarded mercury-containing thermostats.
Mercury Laws & Rules
- Indiana Code IC 13-20-17 - Restrictions on Batteries Containing Mercury
- This law restricts the sale and distribution of batteries containing mercury.
- Indiana Code IC 13-20-17.5- Mercury and Mercury Products Law
- This law restricts the sale of mercury-added novelties, thermometers, mercury compounds, and equipment for use in school laboratories, and the general sale of mercury-containing commodities.
- Universal Waste Rule Guidance [PDF - 45KB] (329 IAC 3.1-16, incorporating 40 CFR 273)
- The Universal Waste Rule is a modification of the Hazardous Waste Rules, enacted under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which is designed to reduce regulatory management requirements so as to foster the environmentally sound recycling or disposal of certain specified categories of commonly generated hazardous wastes.
Mercury Resources
- Information on US EPA Region 5's work with states and Environment Canada on mercury use and reduction is available from the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Mercury Workgroup.
- US EPA developed a Mercury in Medical Facilities HTML program to teach health care professionals about the hazards of mercury as commonly used in health care facilities.
- Minnesota's Office of Environmental Assistance developed a factsheet on mercury considerations in building and renovation projects [DOC].
- The Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable maintains a Mercury-Health Care Topic Hub(click on Mercury-Health Care at http://www.glrppr.org/hubs/) as a quick guide to mercury information and online resources.
- Eliminating Mercury in Hospitals [PDF - 684KB] identifies where mercury is found in hospitals and how it can be eliminated. Gives persuasive reasons why it should be eliminated. Produced by U.S. EPA Region 9 Pollution Prevention Program.
- Lamp Recycling Information sponsored by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
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