SLING PSYCHROMETER Just say ‘NO ’
MERCURY FLAME SENSORS In old furnaces Very bad No heat No repair Complicated clean-up Owner usually can’t afford the clean-up
FREE-FLOWING MERCURY Was traded on commodity market – people saved it thinking it would be worth $$ Any container is possible Stored anywhere! Often spilled in foreclosure cleanups
MERCURY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS
FUN FACTS A BP device contains 80 grams of mercury Or 80,000,000 micrograms (ug)
IF IT ALL TURNS INTO A VAPOR… You would need 22 Superdomes of air to reduce the air concentration to 1 ug/m 3 !
ISSUES Michigan has no funding for enforcement Clean Sweep is not indefinitely funded for mercury There is funding for this year Thousands of BP devices are still in use in the state BP devices are being donated and repurposed We have had spills in schools and day care
CLEAN SWEEP PROGRAM
CLEAN SWEEP TAKES MERCURY FOR FREE !
CLEAN SWEEP PROGRAM Provides proper disposal of pesticides, mercury and pharmaceuticals. Not required to take other types of waste. Has disposed 850 tons of pesticides. Michigan has special funding for mercury. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
HOW IT WORKS Make sure waste is secure for transport! Contact Clean Sweep site and make arrangements for drop off. Not all sites can take pharmaceuticals.
CONTACT INFO For Michigan Google Clean Sweep Michigan First match is MDARD Clean Sweep
PUBLICIZE CLEAN SWEEP!
CLEAN SWEEP TAKES MERCURY FOR FREE!
SMALL SPILLS
WHY REMOVE MERCURY-CONTAINING ITEMS? Thermometer spill School (home economics) - $8,400 Sphygmomanometer Preschool - $13,000 Mercury switch - Commercial oven control panel Remediation quoted at $8,000 (in excess of previously paid costs) Mercury recovery from two streets Release from garbage truck - $12,500 (not total cost)
WHY REMOVE MERCURY? Remediation costs exceeded worth of house (42 lbs of Hg in gal gasoline container) Iron County in the Upper Peninsula
URGENT MERCURY EVENTS Heat source involved Spill location unknown Large amounts of mercury Large groups of people Opportunity for long term exposure (historic spills) Sensitive populations (pregnant women, young children)
HOW MUCH MERCURY SPILLED? What was the item? Is there more? Less than 1 pound (about 2 T) May still need assistance (more than just amount of mercury) More than 1 pound National Response Center – or
WHERE DID THE MERCURY SPILL? Was it residential? What room? (Was the mercury heated?) Was it non-residential? Only workers or public too? (schools/medical clinics/prisons, etc.) Could it be tracked home? When did the spill occur? Today or two weeks ago?
WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE SPILL? Location may answer this question School – students, teachers Medical clinic (ob/gyn or pediatrician) – pregnant women, small children, staff Adults and/or children? All adult males?
ARE THERE PETS IN THE HOUSE? Are they always in a cage? Were they there when the items broke? Could they spread the mercury?
WHAT CLEANUP WAS DONE? Was the room/area ventilated? Can it be? Did someone vacuum or sweep? What type of flooring? Where is the mercury now?
INITIAL SPILL RESPONSE Restrict Access (evacuate) Isolate HVAC, ventilate to outdoors (if possible) Notify local health department and other agencies Report 1 pound (2 T) or more to National Response Center Contractor for cleanup
A regular vacuum cleaner or broom will not collect mercury Hire professionals (HAZWOPER trained) Use cardboard/tape (homeowner) Once all beads are gone wash with paper towels and detergent Isolate the spill area/minimize the mercury vapor Block off area (plastic bags and tape), keep track of contaminated items (bag) Don’t wash mercury contaminated clothes or shoes Discard or air out for several days (can’t save all items) GUIDANCE – SMALL SPILLS