Tale of Mercury

It has been known for many years that mercury, sometimes known as quicksilver, has toxic properties. The expression "Mad as a Hatter" comes from the twitching and dementia once common among hatters who used to dip felt into mercuric nitrate to soften it. It is undoubtedly the inspiration for the mad hatter character in Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland."

Fluorescent Lighting – Part of our everyday lives

Fluorescent or High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting is a good business choice.

Compared to Incandescent lighting, fluorescent and HID lighting use less energy and produce less heat. Less energy and heat not only result in lower lighting and cooling costs, but they also result in utility power plants emitting less air pollutants such as mercury, lead, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxides. If you are considering switching to high-efficiency Quantum fluorescent, don't hesitate to make the change. New lamps with reduced mercury levels are currently in the marketplace and further reductions in mercury use in fluorescent lamps from manufacturers are in the immediate future.

Although fluorescent and HID lighting save energy and money, they do present special disposal challenges. Fluorescent and HID lamps (as well as some types of neon lamps) all contain mercury and in most cases are considered to be hazardous wastes when disposed in any amount. Mercury, regardless of quantity, is a toxic metal that in certain forms can accumulate in living tissue and cause adverse health effects. Although the amount of mercury in each lamp is small, households and businesses in the U.S. and Europe discard millions of lamps each year, making these lamps one of the largest sources of mercury in our garbage and ultimately in our waters.

When a lamp is broken or placed in a landfill or incinerator, the mercury can contaminate the air, surface water, and ground water. Mercury contamination is most evident from the Department of health's warnings of high mercury levels in fish in a number of our lakes and rivers.

Mercury is Harmful

Mercury, the harmful effects of which have been documented for decades, is an essential component of fluorescent and high intensity discharge lamps. These and other types of lamps, because they contain mercury, are considered hazardous waste when removed from service.

Determining whether a waste is hazardous is the responsibility of the generator through "knowledge of the product" or the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure test (TCLP). Most fluorescent and high intensity discharge lamps (HIDs) fail the toxicity test for mercury and must be managed properly.

What is a Linear Fluorescent Tube or Lamp?

STANDARD LINEAR FLUORESCENT LAMPS: A low-pressure mercury electric-discharge, straight-shaped source in which a fluorescing coating transforms some of the ultraviolet energy generated by the mercury discharge into visible light. They come in various lengths, shapes and diameters and have various functions from germicidal, to sun tanning, overhead lighting, interior and exterior landscapes to insect attraction devices. They can be bought virtually anywhere.

DEFINITION

There are many different types and sizes and shapes of bulbs and tubes, but the components are essentially the same. Some typical mercury-containing lamps include: fluorescent, compact, v-shaped and shatter-proof or coated lamps, mercury vapor, HID sodium discharge lamps, metal halide, ultraviolet and arc lamps.

What's in a lamp?

Neither the glass nor white powder (phosphors) in fluorescent lamps is poisonous. The powder is not phosphorous as some think, but rather a mixture of minerals (that glow in the presence of ultraviolet light) that are a lot like clay. The powder does, however, get contaminated by the mercury in a lamp and should be avoided. When the lamps are broken up, you would notice a small cloud of the powder briefly seeping out of any openings. This is the mercury contaminated vapor releasing into the environment. This mercury-contaminated vapor is considered to be poisonous.

Mercury in the United States

There is, however, a tiny ball of liquid mercury in each lamp that is very poisonous. The lamp interior is a vacuum, which holds or forms some mercury vapor, just as water evaporates forming water vapor. The amount of mercury is small and getting smaller every year. It runs about 40 milligrams a lamp on older lamps, and has been steady reduced over the last 7 years to about 20 mg. or lower in a lamp today. This is about the size of a period on this page. About 1% of this mercury evaporates into the vacuum, forming a mercury vapor, which carries the electricity down the length of the lamp. To give you a sense of scale, if you break one lamp in a 10-foot cube room, the mercury content of the air will rise to the level of mercury vapor allowed by OSHA and the national EPA for sustained operations. There is no standard for occasional vapor release (that we are aware of).

Mercury in the European Union

In order to work, as explained above, a fluorescent tube requires a small amount of mercury inside. Because this substance can build up in living organisms and is potentially toxic, responsible manufacturers have actively worked to minimize the amount required in each tube. A new EU directive, RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances), requires that lamps placed on the market in the EU have strictly controlled limits.

Why are these lamps considered hazardous?

Mercury, or "Quicksilver" as it is sometimes called, has traditionally been used in electrical devices, precision instruments, medical apparatus, and in conjunction with other elements to form compounds for industrial applications. Despite its widespread use, mercury is considered a hazardous waste. Devices that contain mercury must be managed properly when they are removed from service. Mercury is classified as one of several "heavy" metals. Wastes containing mercury are regulated under the Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in the U.S., and under the W.E.E.E. Directive in the U.K., and under many existing waste regulation in Europe. Many countries classify certain mercury-devices as "Universal Waste" as long as they are destined for recycling.

It's a fact: mercury is poisonous and pollutes the environment regardless of quantity.

Why recycle these lamps?

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT – It is estimated that some 500 million fluorescent tubes and highway lamps are used annually in the U.S., U.K. and Europe. This equates to around 13,000 tons of material disposed to landfill, including some 12 tons of mercury. The pest management industry alone has thousands of insect light systems in the field and the annual the re-lamping results in spent lamps being thrown in the nearest dumpster only to end up in the county landfill IF they make it that far. Most don't.

Mercury is used in a wide variety of products including fluorescent tubes, sodium and mercury lamps, button cell batteries, dental amalgam, thermometers, manometers, pharmaceutical and agrochemical formulations, all resulting in mercurial waste.

As the mercury from one fluorescent tube can pollute 30,000 liters of water beyond a safe level for drinking, there are strong environmental reasons for proper management and recycling of these bulbs on a worldwide scale.

Universal Waste regulations ban landfill of items containing mercury and other heavy metals, and mandate that they be properly recycled. Failure to comply leaves you liable for penalties, including:

• Fines up to $25,000 and more (In the U.S.)
• Damaged public image by not showing environmental responsibility
• Long-term liability for illegally-disposed of material

Mercury and other heavy metals can pose a serious health risk. The following warnings are in effect:

Short-term exposure to high levels of mercury can cause lung damage, elevated blood pressure or heart rate.

Long-term exposure to high levels of mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetuses.

Mercury contamination causes long-term damage to the environment.

Even in apparently healthy areas, toxic metal poisoning can have underlying effects, such as:

Fish consumption advisories issued in many states and countries due to high levels of mercury pollution.

• Contaminated bodies of water – one ounce of mercury will contaminate a lake for centuries. In the UK and Europe, check with local authorities.

SOLUTION

Recycling, the best option on a worldwide basis

Many companies can't afford the negative press that accompanies polluting the environment by trashing mercury-bearing lamps. High profile companies that are already under the watchful eye of government either already have a recycling or prevention program in place. For others, it's a rude and very expensive awakening. Everyone agrees that recycling is the right thing to do, however it quickly turns to debate when you have to pay for it. Municipalities and local reclamation programs where hazardous waste is dropped at the fire department (or other redemption center) have recognized the need to reach the community have expanded to take fluorescent lamps as well. Many recycling facilities are being established to help both public and private sector organizations to meet their environmental targets and obligations. Enabling specific waste streams to be eliminated helps local authorities to meet the demands of Agenda 21 and the Landfill Directive. For pest management companies and general business, it makes an important contribution to EMAS, ISO 14001 and other environmental management initiatives. In the U.S., R.C.R.A., state and local authorities have indicated that recycling is the prefer method, whenever possible, for the disposal of hazardous waste. Moreover, as the legislative and financial pressures imposed by such measures as the Landfill Tax and the W.E.E.E. Directive continue to grow, the recycling of fluorescent and other lamps will become an increasingly effective way of saving money.

For additional information on your state requirements for the disposal of fluorescent and other mercury bearing lamps and ALL your recycling options contact PestWest at 866.476.7378 or info@pestwest.com or www.lampcompactor.com.