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Back to the Binational Toxics Strategy Chapter 2 - ANNUAL RELEASES OF MERCURY Previous SectionTable of ContentsNext Section
Introduction

In this section, tables are provided for the following 21 source sectors:

· batteries
· coal combustion--industry
· coal combustion--utilities
· crematories
· dental facilities
· fluorescent lamps
· general industry
· hospitals and medical facilities
· incinerators
· landfills
· lime production
· motor vehicle combustion
· oil combustion--industry
· oil combustion--residential
· secondary metal smelting
· septage
· switches--appliances
· switches--automotive
· switches--lighting
· thermostats
· veterinary facilities

Mercury is used in items such as batteries, switches, thermostats and dental amalgams for its properties. Mercury is an excellent electrical conductor and because it is a liquid at room temperature, has the ability to make and break electrical connections by tilting actions in a smooth and efficient manner. It also has expansion properties similar to the natural materials in teeth, thereby not causing undue stresses due to temperature changes in the mouth from hot and cold foods.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that, because of its ability to amalgamate, or combine, with so many other materials, is found naturally as a trace impurity in several of the fuels that a modern economy uses to obtain energy. This is evident in the mercury releases from coal, oil, gasoline, and diesel combustion.

Releases from these source sectors are grouped into two categories: Mercury Releases from Purposeful Uses, which are summarized in Table1 and Figure 2, and Mercury Releases Due to Trace Impurities, summarized in Table 2 and Figure 3.

 

Table 1 : Annual Mercury Releases Resulting from Purposeful Uses
      Releases to Media
Sector Amount
(lb/yr)		 Percent of
Total		 Air
(lb/yr)		 Solid Waste
(lb/yr)		 Wastewater
(lb/yr)
Incinerators 326 35% 326 0 0
Fluorescent Lamps 126 13% 0 126 0
General Industry 111 12% 0 0 111
Dental Facilities 99 11% 0 40 59
Switches - Automotive 72 8% 7 51 14
Thermostats 70 8% 0 70 0
Batteries 53 6% 0 53 0
Households 40 4% 0 0 40
Switches - Lighting 16 2% 0 16 0
Hospitals and Medical Facilities 7 1% 0 0 7
Switches - Appliances 4 <1% 0 3 1
Crematories 3 <1% 3 0 0
Landfills 1 <1% 0 0 1
Veterinary Facilities 1 <1% 0 1 0
Septage 0 0% 0 0 0
Total for Purposeful Uses (lb/yr) 929   336 360 233
Total for Purposeful Uses (%)   100% 36% 39% 25%
figure2.jpg (22537 bytes)
 
Table 2 Annual Mercury Releases Due to Trace Impurities
      Releases to Media    
  Amount Percent of Air Solid Waste Wastewater
Sector (lb/yr) Total (lb/yr) (lb/yr) (lb/yr)
Coal Combustion - Utilities 345 65% 276 69 0
Secondary Metal Smelting 69 13% 69 0 0
Motor Vehicle Combustion 48 9% 48 0 0
Oil Combustion - Industry 35 7% 35 0 0
Oil Combustion - Residential 30 6% 30 0 0
Coal Combustion - Industry 0 0% 0 0 0
Lime Production 0 0% 0 0 0
Total for Trace Impurities (pounds) 527   458 69 0
Total for Trace Impurities (percent)   100% 87% 13% 0%

Figure 3
figure3.jpg (18861 bytes)
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This Page created March 11, 1998
Revised: May 07, 2002
Maintained by Pranas Pranckevicius, USEPA - GLNPO
URL: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/milwaukeehg/chapter2.html