Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine For related information visit:

UNEPs Global Mercury Program By Charles French, U.S. EPA May 23, 2005 Portland, Maine

Mercury Pollution: a Global Issue Mercury is toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulates in food chains Mercury is released from various sources throughout the world These releases can be transported great distances through air and oceans, easily crossing national borders, cycling globally Even nations with minimal mercury releases, and areas remote from industrial activity (such as the Arctic) are adversely affected Current releases add to the global pool…..

Most mercury entering environment is due to emissions to air, but mercury is also released to water and land from various sources GLOBAL MERCURY CYCLE Courtesy of Rita Schoeny U.S. EPA. Adapted from U.S. Dept. of Interiors Report on Hg in the Florida Everglades

Many humans/wildlife across the globe may be at risk Largely due to consumption of fish; Also due to other sources of exposure (such as artisanal mining and other occupations, cosmetics, spills, ritualistic uses, etc…) Artisinal gold mining/panning in Lao PDR - UNIDO photo

Anthropogenic Air Emissions of Mercury by Region in 1990 and 2000 Total: 1,881 metric tons/yrTotal: 2,269 metric tons/yr Based on Pacyna, J., Munthe J., Presentation at Workshop on Mercury: Brussels, March 29-30, Africa 9% Asia 38% Europe 33% North America 14% South America 3% Africa 18% Asia 52% Australia 6% Europe 11% North America 9% South America 4% Note: Significant emissions also occur due to natural sources, and re-emissions from historic anthropogenic sources.

Source: Estimates derived from data in the 2002 UNEP Global Mercury Assessment Estimates are uncertain; most countries do not have Hg inventories Anthropogenic Air Emissions of Mercury by Industrial Sector in 1995 Total: 2,382 metric tons Coal/Fuel combustion 1470 (62%) Non-ferrous metal production 170 (7%) Pig iron and steel production 30 (1%) Cement production 130 (5%) Waste disposal 110 (5%) Artisanal gold mining 300 (13%) Chlor-alkali 172 (7%)

EPA Model of Contribution of U.S. vs. International Sources to Mercury Deposition Based on modeling about half of U.S. mercury deposition is from U.S. anthropogenic sources and half is from other sources Domestic sources dominate deposition for large part of Eastern U.S. Global sources are dominant in the Western U.S. Source: REMSAD model

Relative Contribution of Domestic vs. International Sources to fish mercury levels Freshwater Fish (East) Freshwater Fish (West) Waterways Other Marine Fish U.S. Domestic Emissions International Emissions (Global Pool) Atlantic Coastal/ Gulf Fish Farm Fish Increasing Domestic Percentage ContributionIncreasing International Percentage Contribution Deposition

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) UNEP, in collaboration with other organizations, has been pivotal in raising global awareness of mercury pollution The mandates, priorities, and scope of work for UNEP are largely determined by the UNEP Governing Council (GC), which holds a general session every 2 years

UNEP Global Mercury Assessment (GMA) Report –Completed in 2002 by UNEP Working Group –Initiated by UNEP GC in February 2001 (during 21 st Session) –Extensive info on global mercury pollution, including sources of releases, uses in products and processes, fate & transport, toxicity, exposures, and prevention/control measures

UNEP GC Decision in February 2003 (22 nd Session) Concluded there is sufficient evidence of significant global adverse impacts to warrant further international action Decided national, regional and global actions should be initiated ASAP Urged all countries to adopt goals and take actions to identify exposed populations & reduce releases Requested UNEP to initiate technical assistance and capacity building activities Established the UNEP Mercury Program

UNEP Mercury Program 2003/05 Hosted 7 Regional Awareness Raising Workshops In Argentina, Lebanon, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, and Trinidad and Tobago Drafting guidance materials to help countries: Develop Inventories of Mercury Releases Identify Populations at Risk Others Establish and maintain an information Clearinghouse

UNEP GC Decision in February 2005 (the 23 rd Session) Requests UNEP to: Further develop the Mercury Program Prepare a report summarizing supply, trade and demand information on mercury, including in artisanal mining Encourages Governments to: promote and improve evaluation and risk communication methods…..

UNEP GC Decision in February 2005 (23 rd Session) Requests Governments, private sector, etc... to take immediate actions to reduce risks posed by mercury in products and processes Considering application and sharing of Best Available Techniques to reduce emissions… Action on reducing risk of exposure related to mercury in products (such as batteries) and processes (such as chlor-alkali plants) Consider curbing primary mercury production

UNEP GC Decision in February 2005 (23 rd Session) Urges Governments, IGOs, NGOs, and private sector to develop & implement partnerships… as one approach to reducing the risks due to the release of mercury to environment Requests UNEP to: Invite Governments to identify priority partnership areas ASAP, with the goal of identifying a set of pilot partnerships by September 1, 2005 Report on progress of the partnerships to GC at the 24 th Session (February 2007)

UNEP GC Decision in February 2005 (23 rd Session) Requests UNEP to facilitate work among various stakeholders to: Improve understanding of sources, fate, transport Promote development of inventories Promote development of environmentally sound disposal and remediation practices To increase awareness of environmentally sound recycling practices Decides to assess at next Session (February 2007) the need for further action, considering the full range of options, including the possibility of a legally binding instrument, partnerships and other actions

U.S. Government Support U.S. Government provides significant support to the Program, including financial, technical, staff time, etc… Largest Donor: $1.3 million in Plan to contribute over $1.5 million in 2005

U.S. Government Involvement Pleased with GC decision, and especially interested in establishing partnerships in the following areas: Chlor-alkali production Products Artisanal, small-scale mining Coal-fired power facilities Research on Fate, Transport, Global Cycling Believe Partnerships will strengthen existing Program, and that progress can be made in short-term to reduce uses and releases

U.S. Involvement - Partnerships Each partnership will be unique because of the variation of sources, different issues, etc…, but in general, partnerships could include some or all of the following: Sharing information about best management practices and appropriate technologies Demonstration projects Leveraging Resources Data collection and reporting Training and Workshops Outreach and Education Other activities with an aim to reduce uses and releases, etc…

Partnerships Stakeholders are invited to participate A partner is an entity who indicates a willingness to contribute time, resources, or expertise to implement the partnership…

U.S. Hosting Informal Consultations to Further Discuss & Develop Partnerships May 25, from 2:00 to 5:00, at the Eastland Park Hotel, in Portland, Maine Mercury Reduction in Products Contact: Denise Wright (U.S. EPA) Mercury Reduction in Chlor-alkali Sector Contact: Angela Bandemehr (U.S. EPA) June 15, from 1:00 to 5:30, at World Bank, in Washington D.C. Mercury Management in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining Contact: Marianne Bailey (U.S. EPA)

For More Information See UNEP Mercury website: /

Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

Mercury Product Life-Cycle Tool: Uses and Results Alexis Cain, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 Achieving Mercury Reductions in Products and Wastes, Portland, ME, May 23, 2005

Questions Are Products (Still) Important Sources of Mercury to the Environment? Incinerators have been controlled Mercury thermometers have become rare Which Products Contribute the Most? Which Pathways Contribute the Most? Which Interventions Will Reduce Mercury the Most?

Mercury Product Life-Cycle Release Estimation Project Minnesota PCA (Ed Swain)/Barr Engineering (Carol Andrews, Bruce Monson)– estimates for MN in 2001– Used to improve MPCA mercury emissions inventories Wisconsin DNR/Barr/Dane County– adapted for WI in ; EPA Region 5, WDNR (Randy Case), Dane Co. (John Reindl), Barr (Cliff Twaroski, Sarah Disch) develop national estimates

Life-Cycle Mercury Flow Approach Mass Balance Spreadsheets Distribution Factors Release Factors Estimated releases to air, water, land in 1990, 2000, Mercury used in products is released, recycled, or maintained in inventory

Products Covered Dental amalgam Fluorescent lamps, other lamps Bulk liquid mercury Switches and relays Auto switches Thermostats Measurement and Control Devices Thermometers Batteries– a back of the envelope analysis Did not evaluate chemicals, fungicides

Air Emissions, by Product

Air Emissions, by Pathway

Emissions by Pathway: 2005 Total: 24.3 metric tons

Selected 1999 NEI* Emissions Compared with Model (2000) NEIModel Medical/Municipal Incinerators Burn Barrels?2.7 Refuse Systems1.9? Lamp Breakage All Product Breakage?4.6 Sewerage Systems1.6 Mercury Recycling Iron and Steel Furnaces* Zinc Production?2.0 Metal Shredders?1.8 Auto Fluff?0.4 NEI: EPAs National Emissions Inventory. Steel furnace estimate from regulation development for foundries and electric arc furnaces.

Iron and Steel Recycling Less decrease than in most other categories Not just autos– autos account for under 1/2 of steel furnace emissions (high uncertainty) Not just steel furnaces– zinc production, shredders, auto fluff

Solid Waste Management System Emissions declining rapidly Big impacts from battery P2; incinerator regulations Emissions could be significant for: Burn barrels Product breakage during use, transport to disposal sites High uncertainty

Dental Amalgam Significant water releases (495 kg in 2000) >50% Air releases from sludge incineration and land application, dental office vacuum system, cremation, exhaled air (high uncertainty) Potential BMP/Separator impact?

Evaluation of Potential Control Options: Dental Amalgam, 2005 WaterAir BMP Status quo, no separators4266, % BMP adherence, zero separators3275, % adoption of BMPs and 95%- effective separators995,423 In kg. Assumes that WWTPs are equally effective at removing dental amalgam and other mercury from sewage.

Evaluation of Potential Control OptionsAir Emissions Impact Auto switches, switch removal– 5,050 kg emissions 20% removal– 4,090 kg 80% recycling1,211 kg Fluorescent lamps, % lamp recycling1,142 kg emissions 75% lamp recycling– 599 kg emissions

Conclusions Products Are Still Important Sources of Mercury to the Environment Releases reduced significantly Important reduction opportunities in iron and steel production/recycling; dental, lamps Model provides opportunity to better understand release pathways and to test impact of potential control strategies Quantification is roughmany uncertainties More detail on the model: Wednesday, 5/25

Questions? Alexis Cain USEPA-Region 5 (312)

Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

Mercury Pollution in the Northeast: Sources, Impacts and Role of Mercury Products C. Mark Smith, PhD MS Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection/ CoChair NEG-ECP Mercury Task Force

Credits Inventory: Margaret Round, NESCAUM; state air program staff Deposition modeling: John Graham; Jung-Hun Woo; Emily Savelli (NESCAUM) Deposition monitoring: Gerald Keeler (U. Michigan); Margaret Round (NESCAUM); Thomas McGrath and Air Assessment Branch staff (MADEP) Fish monitoring: Michael Hutcheson; Carol Rowan West, Jane Rose; Kenneth Hulme; Barbara Eddy; Oscar Pancorbo; Chi-ying Hsieh; Robert Maietta; Gregory DeCesare (MADEP) Normandeau Associates staff. Costs: Praveen Amar (NESCAUM); James Hammitt (HCRA); Glenn Rice (EPA)

Part A: Mercury Impacts in the Northeast

In MA > 60% of lakes tested; statewide advisory; over 100 waterbodies with specific advisories. C. Mark Smith PhD, MS Many Waterbodies Impacted

2. Many Children at Risk Based on CDC data 84,000 newborns each year at risk in the northeast C. Mark Smith PhD, MS

3. Wildlife At Risk Fish eating birds, even some songbirds Fish Eating Mammals C. Mark Smith PhD, MS

4. Mercury Health Costs Significant Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Mercury Health Cost Study (2005) Harvard Center for Risk Analysis NESCAUM Mercury Reduction Health Benefit Study (2005)

Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Mercury Health Cost Study (2005) Economic costs from mercury exposure from all sources/ utility emissions Health effects considered: Neurotoxicity (decreased IQ) in children Other health/ environmental impacts not considered Anthropogenic mercury costs for all sources: $2,200,000,000 – $43,800,000,000 per year. –NE costs: $293,000,000 – $5,835,000,000 per year Costs per pound of mercury pollution (based on utility emissions): $13,000 (range: $1,000 - $66,000)

Harvard Center for Risk Analysis NESCAUM Mercury Health Benefit Study (2005) Health benefits associated from 68,000 lb. reduction in emissions attributable to EPAs utility rule. Health effects considered: Neurotoxicity in children (IQ); cardiovascular impacts in adults Other health effects/ environmental costs not considered. Benefit estimate: –$100,000,000 to $5,000,000,000 per year; –$1,500 to $74,000 per pound of mercury emissions prevented.

Part B: Mercury Deposition in the NE- Origins and Progress Regional deposition modeling and monitoring. Preliminary results and qualitative comparisons.

Northeast Total Deposition (1998 NE Regional Mercury Study) Yellow= ug/m2 Lt red= Red= >100 Regional Langrangian Model of Air Pollution (RELMAP) output

Northeast Total Deposition (preliminary results, 2005 NESCAUM) Regional Modeling System for Aerosols and Deposition (REMSAD) output.

Allocation of Modeled Deposition to Eight Northeast States 1998 study2005 study Sources Inside Region 47%21% U.S. Sources Outside Region 30% Global Reservoir 23%49%

Relative Contribution of Source Categories and Region to Modeled Hg Deposition in the NE States (1998)

Relative Contribution of Source Categories and Region to Modeled Hg Deposition in the Northeast States (2003)

Part C: Taking Action To Address Hotspots- Environmental Results NE MA Study Area

Targeted Study of Regional High Deposition Area NE MA: highest predicted Hg deposition 1998 Regional Mercury Study –Historical emissions: 3 MSWCs; 1 large MWI; several smaller MWIs; SSI; utilities –Controls= high delta in inputs Early-responder hypothesis/ public health concerns Components: emissions/ deposition/ biota/ sediments

Fish Mercury Concentrations in Northeastern MA Based on Public Health Risk Criteria

Estimated MA Statewide and High Dep. Area Mercury Emissions Baseline (lbs/year) (lbs/year) Estimated reduction MA8,6002,540 70% High Dep 4, %

Modeled vs Measured Mercury Wet Deposition in MA 1998 Modeled Wet Deposition (ug/m2) 2005 Modeled Wet Deposition (ug/m2) 2002 Measured Wet Deposition (ug/m2) Quabbin5-15< N. Andover >50<

Hg Source Contributions: N. Andover ( )

Part D: Northeast States Mercury Emission Inventory- 60% Reduction (1998 vs. 2003)

Regional vs National Emissions 2003 EI NESCAUM 7.0 TPY TPY 1996 EI NESCAUM 17.6 TPY

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% NYNJMACTNHRIMEVT EGUMWC+MWISSIOtherAmount(TPY) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% NYNJMACTNHRIMEVT Emissions - by States and Sectors Emissions reduced significantly after controls put in place 1996 NESCAUM Emission Inventory 2003 NESCAUM Emission Inventory

Mercury Reductions in New England and E. Canadian Provinces

Part E: Closing The Loop- Mercury P2

Estimated Health Benefits of Mercury Pollution Control $1,500 to $74,000 per pound of mercury emissions prevented Harvard Center for Risk Analysis NESCAUM Mercury Reduction Health Benefit Study (2005) $13,000 (range: $1,000 - $66,000) per pound of mercury emissions prevented Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Mercury Health Cost Study (2005) Costs

Cost Estimates of Mercury Pollution Prevention Programs Car Switch Collection Programs: $1,900 per pound of mercury collected (range= $1,100 (at $3 per switch, low-end estimate) to $3,800 (at $10 per switch, a maximum cost estimate). (Based on NJDEP report, 2004) Thermometer exchange programs: $2,500- $3,000 per pound of mercury collected (MA EOEA and Vt. programs) Community P2 programs: $840 per pound of mercury collected (MA MSWC SSP, 2002) School cleanout programs: $230-$500 per pound of mercury collected (MADEP program costs)

Cost Estimates of Mercury Pollution Control Programs Amalgam Separators: $2,600 per pound of mercury disposal to wastewater prevented (range= $1,900- $3,800) (MA/MDS, 2004 data) Coal-fired Utility Regulations: $2,700- $11,700 per pound of mercury air pollution prevented. (MADEP, 2002 report)

Conclusions Mercury impacts including $ costs substantial in the NE State actions have effectively reduced regional emissions Preliminary data: regional deposition likely reduced

Conclusions Out-of-region sources very significant –Cannot achieve TMDL objectives without substantial reductions in out-of-region sources (>90% for some waterbodies) Mercury–added products contribute significantly to remaining releases and deposition in NE P2 programs appear cost effective