| Mercury
is toxic to the human nervous system. Chronic breathing
of mercury vapors can cause a range of physical symptoms,
including inability to coordinate body movement and impairment
of hearing, speech and vision. Exposure to mercury in
other forms can lead to skin rashes and kidney damage.
Improper
recycling or disposal of mercury-containing products
or by-products could cause toxic mercury to be released
into the environment resulting in neurological damage
to unborn children. According to estimates, 85,000 U.S.
women of childbearing age in a given year have been
exposed to elevated methylmercury levels sufficient
to affect the brain development of their babies. (Reported
by the National Wildlife Federation).
Ever
since the tragic results of mercury poisoning in Minamata
Japan in the 1950's, extensive research has been done
in the field of mercury toxicity in environmental settings.
In general, it has been learned that elemental mercury
that is released to the environment can be deposited
into lakes, rivers, and the oceans. Here a biological
process takes place where the mercury is converted into
methylmercury, a highly toxic organic form of mercury.
The methylmercury is then consumed by various animals
in the food chain where it bioaccumulates. This bioaccumulation
causes very small amounts of mercury in lower animals
forms to become concentrated in larger animals to levels
where their consumption could cause elevated levels
of methylmercury in humans.
The
most common way for mercury to enter aquatic ecosystems
is through vapor deposition. Mercury has a low vapor
pressure and consequently whenever it is heated the
liquid metal becomes a vapor air pollutant. Mercury
is released to the environment anytime mercury-containing
wastes are processed in a municipal waste incinerator.
In addition, improper fluorescent lamp recycling also
causes mercury to be released to the environment.
Under
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
and Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation
and Liability Act (CERCLA), owners and operators
of facilities disposing of hazardous substances may
be held liable for response cost. Liability under CERCLA
is broad, costly and can be retroactive. All generators
may be liable for disposing of mercury containing wastes
in a dumpster or local landfill. Disposal of mercury
waste in an environmentally sound manner will help minimize
the potential for environmental contamination and minimize
the potential for liability.
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