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EPA Region 5 Tool for Assessing Mercury Impacts in Products & Wastes

Learn about the EPA Region 5 tool for assessing the potential impacts of various mercury-added products and wastes. This presentation includes a demonstration and information on achieving mercury reductions in products and wastes.

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EPA Region 5 Tool for Assessing Mercury Impacts in Products & Wastes

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  1. Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine For related information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/conferences

  2. Demonstration of the EPA Region 5 Tool for Assessing the Potential Impacts of Various Mercury-added Products & Wastes Alexis Cain, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 Achieving Mercury Reductions in Products and Wastes, Portland, ME, May 25, 2005

  3. 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 2003-2004 • 2004-5; EPA Region 5, WDNR (Randy Case), Barr (John Reindl), Barr (Cliff Twaroski, Sarah Disch) develop national estimates

  4. Life-Cycle Mercury Flow Approach • Mass Balance • Spreadsheets • Distribution Factors • Release Factors • Estimated releases to air, water, land in 1990, 2000, 2005-10 • Mercury used in products is released, recycled, or added to inventory

  5. 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

  6. Ways the Tool Could be Improved • Include more product sub-categories • Update mercury use data • Improve release factors • Zinc production, auto shredders • Land application of biosolids • WWTP mercury removal (especially for dental amalgam) • Dental office vacuum system, exhalation • Breakage by consumers, in transport

  7. Cautions • Adaptations are encouraged, but: • Need to follow through the spreadsheets carefully to ensure that impact of changes flows through spreadsheets in a realistic way • In many cases, mercury inputs and outputs are calculated separately • Provide documentation

  8. Collaboration • How best to allow interested parties to work with the spreadsheets and improve them, while coordinating and tracking these changes • Suggestions welcomed!

  9. Alexis Cain USEPA-Region 5 (312) 886-7018 cain.alexis@epa.gov

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