Toxics & Hazards: Mercury in Massachusetts

Why Is Mercury a Problem?

Purpose and Organization of This Report

Chapter 2

Mercury: Forms, Fate and Effects


Mercury Forms and Fates- Background

Environmental Fate of Mercury: Cycling & Transformation in the Environment

Sources of Mercury

• Natural Sources of Mercury
• Mercury Sources Associated with Human Activities

Measurement of Mercury Levels in the Environment

Biological Effects

• Human Health Effects
• Ecological Effects of Mercury
• Environmental Monitoring of Biological Effects

Mercury in Massachusetts: Sources and Emissions


Mercury Sources, Emission Monitoring and Source Release Estimates
• Introduction
• Mercury in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
  • Background
  • Estimates of Recent Mercury Disposal in Municipal Solid Waste from Batteries and Fluorescent Lighting: Updated Estimates
  • Batteries: Overall Estimates
  • Batteries: Mercury Estimates from Specific Battery Types and Potential Impacts of National Battery Legislation
  • Electric Lighting
  • Other Source Categories
  • summary
• Municipal Solid Waste Combustors
  • Background
  • Massachusetts Facilities: Monitoring and Emissions Information
  • Estimates for Overall Emissions of Mercury from Massachusetts MSWCs
  • Comparison of Mercury Estimated to be in Municipal Solid Waste to Mercury Exiting MSWCs
• Medical Waste Incinerators
  • Background
  • Massachusetts Facilities: Monitoring and Emission Information
  • Estimates for Overall Emissions of Mercury from Massachusetts MWIs
• Fuel Oil Combustion
  • Background
  • Massachusetts Fuel Oil Use
  • Estimates for Overall Emissions of Mercury from Massachusetts Oil Combustion
• Coal Fired Facilities
  • Background
  • Massachusetts Facilities
  • Estimates for Overall Emissions of Mercury from Massachusetts Coal Fired Facilities
• Releases from Wastewater
  • Background
  • MWRA Monitoring and Mercury Release Information
  • Sewage Sludge Incineration and Extrapolated Total Statewide Sewage-related Mercury Releases
• Wood Burning Related Releases
  • Background
  • Massachusetts Facilities and Emissions Information
  • Estimates for Overall Emissions of Mercury from Massachusetts Wood Burning
• Other Industrial, Commercial and Miscellaneous Sources
  • Overview
  • Lamp Breakage
  • Dental Applications
  • General Lab Use
  • Crematoria
  • Mercury Recycling
  • Petroleum Refining
  • Mobile Sources
  • Natural Gas Combustion
  • Paint Use
  • Electrical Apparatus and Instrument Manufacture
  • Mercury Compound Production
  • Other

Summary of Massachusetts Mercury Release Estimates

Environmental Monitoring of Mercury in Massachusetts


Environmental Monitoring of the Environment Near the SEMASS Resource Recovery Facility

Hazardous Waste Sites

• Background - Known Mercury Releases at Hazardous Waste Sites
• The Nyanza Superfund Site

Landfills

• Background
• Landfills in Massachusetts
• Mercury Monitoring Data for Six Massachusetts Landfills

Fish Monitoring Studies

• Freshwater Fish
  • Comparison with Public Health Standards
  • Comparison with Data from Other States
• Marine Fish

Discussion

Regulatory Standards and Controls

Recommended Exposure and Environmental Concentration Limits
• Drinking Water
• Ambient Air
• Soil
• Fish for Human Consumption

Health Risks From Mercury in Massachusetts

• Overall Risks
• Risks Associated with Specific Sources of Mercury in Massachusetts

Emission Control Requirements

Mercury Source Reduction and Recycling

Chapter 6

Steps to Reduce Mercury Sources and Risks

Regulatory Positions and Actions Regarding Mercury Sources and Risks
• Source Reduction
• Emission Controls
• Risk Reduction
• Steps We Can All Take
• Conclusion

Appendices

Appendix B: Landfill Monitoring Data

Appendix C: Ambient Atmospheric Monitoring and Stack Testing

Appendix D: Mercury Toxicity: Technical Overview

Appendix E: Monitoring of Mercury in Fish

Appendix F: Mercury Sources in Municipal Solid Waste

Appendix G: MADEP/EOEA Battery Bill Positions

Figures

Figure 2-1	Common Mercury Transformations
Figure 2-2	Cycling and Transformations of Mercury in the Environment
Figure 3-1	Estimated Discards of Mercury in Products in the Nationwide U.S. Municipal Waste Stream, 1970-2000
Figure 3-2	Discards of Mercury in Products in the Municipal Solid Waste Stream, 1989 and 2000 (%).
Figure 3-3	Mercury in the Massachusetts Municipal Solid WasteStream
Figure 3-4	GIS Map of Municipal Solid Waste Combustors
Figure 3-5	Mercury Stack Test Results, Massachusetts Municipal Solid Waste Combustors
Figure 3-6	Springfield-Agawam Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-7	Haverhill - Ogden Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-8	Lawrence - Ogden Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-9	Millbury - Wheelabrator Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-10	North Andover - NEWSC Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-11	Pittsfield - VICON Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-12	Rochester - SEMASS Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-13	Saugus - RESCO Mercury Test Summary
Figure 3-14	Air Emissions of Total Mercury from Stack Tests of Medical Waste Incinerators
Figure 3-15	GIS Map of Coal-Fired Facilities
Figure 3-16	MWRA System Mass Balance for Mercury
Figure 3-17	Summary of Mercury Releases in Massachusetts
Figure 4-1	Frequency Histograms for Mercury Concentrations in Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch and Brown Bullheads in Massachusetts

Tables

Table 3-1	U.S. Nationwide Discards of Mercury in Products in the Municipal Solid Waste Stream (total)
Table 3-2	U.S. Nationwide Discards of Mercury in Products in the Municipal Solid Waste Stream, 1970 to 2000 (%)
Table 3-3	Mercury Use in The US in Short Tons (U.S. Bureau of Mine Data on National Mercury Use)
Table 3-4	Types of Household Batteries
Table 3-5	Mercury in Massachusetts Solid Waste - 1995
Table 3-6	Relative Amounts of Mercury from Button Cells, Alkaline and Zinc-Carbon Batteries in MA MSW
Table 3-7	Massachusetts Municipal Solid Waste Combustors Mercury Stack Test Results
Table 3-8	Average Annual Tons of Mercury Emitted from MSWCs Using 1991-1994 Stack Test Data
Table 3-9	Current Status and Operational Characteristics of MA Permitted Medical and Related Material Incinerators
Table 3-10	Mercury Analysis for Four Massachusetts Medical Waste Incinerators
Table 3-11	Estimates of Emissions of Mercury from Massachusetts Medical Waste Incinerators
Table 3-12	Existing Coal Fired Facilities
Table 3-13	Estimates of Mercury Emissions from Existing Coal Fired Facilities
Table 3-14	Mercury Analysis for Six Sewage Sludge Incinerators
Table 3-15	Existing Wood-Fired Facilities
Table 3-16	Summary of Massachusetts Sources of Mercury Releases
Table 4-1	Summary Statistics of Mercury Concentrations in Fish from Massachusetts Water Bodies
Table 4-2	Average Values of Mercury in Freshwater Fish Species
Table 5-1	Limits for Mercury Concentrations in Various Environmental Media
Table 5-2	Limits for Allowable Mercury Intakes

Executive Summary