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City of Gastonia Mercury Awareness. Mercury Issues In 1998 The City of Gastonia was experiencing occasional mercury violations at both of their Wastewater.

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Presentation on theme: "City of Gastonia Mercury Awareness. Mercury Issues In 1998 The City of Gastonia was experiencing occasional mercury violations at both of their Wastewater."— Presentation transcript:

1 City of Gastonia Mercury Awareness

2 Mercury Issues In 1998 The City of Gastonia was experiencing occasional mercury violations at both of their Wastewater Treatment Plants. Any detection of mercury was considered to be too much.

3 Initial Efforts Initially we focused our efforts on educating the area dentist about the harms of mercury in the environment through annual presentation with help from the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. Dentists were targeted because dental offices are considered to be a point source contributor of mercury dischargers.

4 Community Efforts In 2002 we expanded our efforts to include the community. The most effective way to deal with mercury issues is to eliminate or reduce it’s discharge at the source, which includes removal from the community.

5 July 13, 2002 The City held it’s first Mercury Collection Day and Thermometer Exchange Event on July 13, 2002. Residents brought in mercury containing items to be recycled. In exchange for their participation, they received a free non mercury thermometer.

6 GOAL of Event The goal of this event was to remove mercury containing items from the environment for proper disposal.

7 PURPOSE of Event The event was held for 2 purposes: 1) Public health and environmental awareness of mercury. 2) Educate the Community regarding the removal and proper disposal of mercury containing items.

8 Public Awareness The public awareness campaign consist of the following: News Articles in the Gaston Gazette Government Television Broadcast Flyers and Email Distributions

9 Mercury Collection Event The event represented the first step in our campaign to motivate residents to replace mercury containing items with non mercury substitutes.

10 What is Mercury? Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is a metallic element which is liquid at room temperature. Mercury flows in shiny, silver droplets with high surface tension.

11 Where is Mercury found? Mercury is released into the atmosphere by: Volcanic eruptions Groundwater seepage, Evaporation from Oceans Human Activities -Combustion of fossil fuels and incineration of municipal and medical waste; as well as improper disposal of mercury-containing items Once released into the environment, mercury can be re- circulated through the air, soils and water for hundreds of years.

12 Why should we care about Mercury? Metallic mercury is relatively non-toxic, but other forms of mercury are threats to the public health. When metallic mercury is released into the environment, bacteria can convert it into methyl mercury, a potent neurotoxin. Larger organisms consume the bacteria, fish consume the organisms and humans consume fish. Methyl mercury becomes more concentrated as it moves up the food chain making consumption unsafe for birds and mammals, including humans.

13 Methyl Hg Metallic Mercury Cycle Metallic Hg Bacteria

14 Methyl Mercury Humans consume food sources which contain methyl mercury. In high concentrations, Mercury is capable of damaging the adult central nervous system and brain.

15 Manufactured items containing Mercury In the following common household products: Mercury thermometers Barometers Fluorescent light bulbs Electrical switches Dental fillings Button cell batteries Batteries (produced before 1991) Paints (manufactured before 1990) Sneaker that light up

16 Event Summary The Mercury Collection Day and Thermometer Exchange event removed 898 mercury-containing items from the environment for proper disposal-recycling.

17 Event Summary The 4 containers of free liquid mercury had been kept by 4 residents for 20, 25, 30 and 70 years before being brought in for disposal-recycling. The container of liquid mercury showed above had been kept by a resident for 70 years. The one below had been kept for 25 years.

18 HISTORY The City of Gastonia is the first City in North Carolina to conduct a Mercury Collection Day AND A Thermometer Exchange Program. The Town of Tryon, North Carolina was the first to hold a Mercury Collection Day. They removed 175 pounds of mercury containing items.

19 Sponsors The City of Gastonia would like to thank the following sponsors: North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance R.G. Medical Diagnostics American & Efird Crompton Corporation (Reine M. Smirz) CRS Gastonia Firestone George Weston Bakeries Inc. Danaher Tool Group Industrial Electroplating Company, Inc. James P. McCarthy, DMD Jerry Marshall Gunter, DDSPA Kevin Monroe, DDS Lowry Dentistry Noveon Pediatric Dental Care (Charles W. Conner, DDS) Porta-Jon of the Piedmont, Inc. RADICISPANDEX CORP. Sashae Enterprises Stabilus Target Town of Ranlo Valley Proteins Inc. Wal-Mart Clarence Morris The Gaston Gazette

20 Future Events Due to the success of the event, it is now an open event. Residents who would like to recycle mercury containing items like thermometers, button cell batteries or thermostats in exchange for a Free non- mercury thermometer, contact Janet Maddox at 704- 854-6672 or janetm@cityofgastonia.com janetm@cityofgastonia.com

21 CASE STUDY City of Gastonia-Mercury Collection / Thermometer Exchange Event on The N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) Website www.p2pays.org/mercury

22 QUESTIONS ?


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