May 2002* 

Introduction

This fact sheet addresses California’s Mercury Reduction Act of 2001 (SB 633), and is intended to provide information to the general public about mercury in K-12 schools, vehicles, thermometers, and novelty items. It introduces the risks associated with mercury exposure, suggests ways to avoid mercury, and identifies sources of additional information. It also provides guidance regarding the industries affected by this legislation, such as manufacturers, distributors and retailers of school laboratory equipment, thermometers, novelty items, and vehicles, as well as auto dismantlers and shredders.

What is Mercury and Where is it Found?

Mercury (also known as quicksilver because it is a silver-colored liquid metal at room temperature) is an element that does not break down in the environment. It occurs naturally and is found in oceans, rocks and soils. It becomes airborne as gas or dust when rocks erode, volcanoes erupt and soil decomposes, or when people burn coal, oil or natural gas as fuel or incinerate garbage containing mercury. Once in the air, mercury can fall to the ground with rain and snow, landing on soils or water bodies.

Lakes and rivers can also become contaminated when companies or individuals release mercury-laden industrial waste onto the ground or in waterways. Once present in these bodies of water, mercury accumulates in fish and may ultimately reach the dinner table.

Mercury is used in household and commercial products, as well as industrial processes, because it is liquid at room temperature, combines easily with other metals, and expands and contracts evenly with temperature changes. Incinerators, some manufacturing plants, hospitals, dental offices, schools, and homes all release mercury. In the home, mercury is present in fluorescent lights, thermostats, thermometers, old alkaline batteries, mercurochrome, chemistry sets, and even some children’s toys. At school, mercury may be in science and chemistry classrooms, the nurse’s office and electrical systems.

Why  Reduce Mercury Use?

Two different forms of mercury are of human health concern: elemental mercury and organic mercury.

Elemental mercury slowly vaporizes at room temperature and even more quickly when heated. Children playing with or near elemental mercury can be seriously poisoned by breathing the invisible vapor from mercury spilled in carpeting, furniture or other surfaces.

Although people can take in organic mercury through the lungs, mouth or skin, the most likely source of organic mercury in humans is eating contaminated fish. Human exposure to organic mercury can result in long-lasting health effects, especially if it occurs during fetal development. In addition, scientists have linked mercury poisoning to nervous system, kidney and liver damage, and impaired childhood development.  Nervous system disorders can include impaired vision, speech, hearing and coordination.

Although mercury has been a very useful element due to its unique properties, it poses a very real health risk from exposure. We can reduce this risk by reducing our use of products containing mercury and properly disposing of waste containing mercury.

Governor Gray Davis signed SB 633 into law on October 9, 2001. Introduced by Senator Byron Sher, the bill addresses several approaches to reducing mercury in California. See effective dates below.

What are the Alternatives?

School Uses: Teachers and students can use other chemicals in classroom experiments to illustrate chemistry or physics principles. Alcohol and electronic thermometers are readily available and sufficiently accurate.

Vehicles: Vehicle manufacturers can use alternatives to mercury switches for trunk and hood convenience lights. It is also possible to replace the mercury in an existing light switch with a ball bearing-type switch. Consumers are encouraged to request the replacement and recycling of mercury light switches during normal vehicle servicing.

Thermometers: Alternatives to mercury fever thermometers include digital thermometers and glass thermometers (with either alcohol or a mix of gallium, indium, and tin). The standards for accuracy are the same for mercury and non-mercury thermometers. In practice, numerous patient and user factors can affect the accuracy of all fever thermometers.

Novelty Items: Some novelty items contain intentionally-added mercury. For instance, lightup tennis shoes once contained mercury, but according to footwear manufacturers, they changed the light-up mechanisms in 1997 to eliminate the mercury. Consumers should check to ensure that items that light-up or make noise are free of mercury. To help determine whether an item contains mercury, call the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s hotline at (800) 638-2772.

Requirements of California’s Mercury Reduction Act of 2001

How to Dispose of Products Containing Mercury

For mercury-containing products found in the home, local governments in California operate an extensive system of household hazardous waste collection programs. Many of these programs also accept hazardous waste from small businesses. For information about the household hazardous waste program in your community:

• Call your local environmental health or public works department
• Call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687)
• Visit 1-800-CLEANUP on the web
• Call DTSC’s Public and Business Liaisons at 1-800-72TOXIC (1-800-728-6942)
• Visit DTSC’s web site

Businesses seeking information on management or disposal options for wastes containing mercury should contact the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Public and Business Liaisons at 1-800-72TOXIC (1-800-728-6942).

For More Information

• SB 633 text
• Health Care without Harm
• Environmental Laws that Apply to Mercury (U.S. EPA)
• Mercury in consumer products (U.S. EPA)
• Mercury in schools (CDC)
• Mercury in consumer products: Contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission at (800) 638-2772 or the Consumer Products Safety Commission website

*Disclaimer

This fact sheet does not replace or supersede relevant statutes and regulations. The information contained in this fact sheet is based upon the statutes and regulations in effect as of the date of the fact sheet. Interested parties should keep apprised of subsequent changes to relevant statutes and regulations.