Web resources www.hennepin.us/environment Hennepin County – Information for residents on year- Elemental or metallic mercury is round drop-off facilities for household hazardous a shiny, silver-white metal that is Mercury wastes, seasonal collection events and how to reduce liquid at room temperature. At room temperature when it is not contained, the amount and toxicity of household hazardous elemental mercury slowly evaporates and products in your home. into the atmosphere. The resulting www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/ vapors are colorless and odorless p-p2s4-07.pdf and can be more readily absorbed mercury- by the body. Inhaling a large amount The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Information of mercury vapor can result in dam- on keeping your family safe from mercury. age to the central nervous system, containing www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/ kidneys and liver and even death. hhw-mercuryspills.pdf Methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin, p r o d u c t s The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Information is the mercury compound of greatest on cleaning up spilled mercury in the home. concern. It hampers the develop- ment of the nervous systems of www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/mercury/ fetuses and young children and in con-prod.htm severe cases causes irreversible brain The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – damage. After mercury is released into the atmosphere, it can settle in A table of products that may contain mercury, water where microorganisms convert recommended management options and information it to methylmercury. When these mi- on non-mercury alternative products. croorganisms are consumed by fish, the mercury builds up in the flesh www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/fish/index.html of the fish. Humans and wildlife are The Minnesota Department of Health – Guidelines for exposed to methylmercury primarily the safe consumption of fish. through eating fish. Visitwww.health. state.mn.us/divs/eh/fish/index.html Mercury, which is found in some common for the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines on the safe household products, is a concern because consumption of fish. exposure to it can be harmful to humans and animals. This shiny, silver metal was once widely used in manufacturing, agriculture and other industries. It has been used as a conductor of electricity, a standard to measure temperature and pressure, a medication and pesticide to kill www.hennepin.us search: A to Z Reducing waste and recycling is making Hennepin a cool county. biological organisms, and as a catalyst to cause

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Where is mercury found in What products contain How can I help protect How do I deal with a the environment? mercury? my family and the mercury spill at home? Mercury is a naturally occurring element Many commonly used household products environment from If someone breaks a mercury- found in soil, water and the air. There are contain mercury. There is no danger of mercury exposure? containing device or spills mercury, do trace amounts of mercury in virtually every exposure to it if these products are used Buy non mercury-containing products. not vacuum the mercury or do anything living thing, as well as in coal and petroleum – appropriately and disposed of properly. Alternatives are available for many to heat it. Call the Minnesota Duty the fossil remains of living things. However, Breakage or damage may allow mercury to products, such as alcohol (those with Officer at 1-800-422-0798 or follow mercury is not an essential nutrient for any escape, so handle these products with care. a red tip) or digital thermometers and the directions in Cleaning up mercury form of life. Some common household products electronic thermostats. spills in the home, which is listed in Although some mercury is released that contain mercury include: web resources on the next page. into the environment from natural sources, • Appliances • Button batteries Properly dispose of mercury- such as volcanoes and geothermal activity, • Electric relays • Electronics containing products. Mercury- the majority of mercury releases are from • Thermostats • Thermometers containing products that are thrown You can reduce mercury in your man-made sources. These sources include • Fluorescent light bulbs in the trash end up at landfills or home by purchasing non mercury- containing alternatives such as an emissions from coal-burning power plants, • Measurement and control devices waste-to-energy facilities where the alcohol thermometer. manufacturing processes and the improper • Tilt switches in silent light switches, mercury can be released into the security systems, space heaters and disposal of mercury-containing products. environment and contribute to air automobile hood switches and water pollution. Mercury in the environment The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accumulates in the flesh of fish. Dangerously high levels of mercury in fish What health hazards are has more information on products that Conserve energy. Emissions from results in fish consumption guidelines. posed by mercury? contain mercury, how to manage them and coal-burning power plants are one how to find alternatives on their website, of the largest sources of mercury in Mercury is a neurotoxin that damages or www.epa.gov the environment. Reducing energy destroys nerve tissue at high concentrations. consumption and the amount of Pregnant women and nursing mothers How do I properly dispose coal that power plants need to burn should be especially careful to avoid of mercury-containing to meet energy demands will help exposure to mercury, and parents should reduce mercury emissions. ensure that young children are not exposed products? to it. Mercury affects all animals – humans In Minnesota it is illegal to place any and wildlife alike. mercury-containing product or device in All forms of mercury are toxic when the trash or wastewater disposal system. taken into the body, but they are not equally All items containing mercury must be likely to be absorbed. recycled. Hennepin County accepts all types of mercury-containing products from households – free of charge – at the county drop-off

facilities in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington. You can remove mercury from your home by replacing your thermostat with a non-mercury-containing, digital For more information visit www.hennepin. alternative. Dispose of your old thermostat at a Hennepin us/dropoffs or call 612-348-3777. County drop-off facility.