Incorporation of Revised ASTM Standards That Provide Flexibility in the Use of Alternatives to Mercury-Containing Industrial Thermometers
Posted by gbertram in Legislation, Resource on January 18th, 2012
Published in the Federal Register January 18, 2012.
EPA is promulgating a final rule to incorporate the most recent versions of ASTM International (ASTM) standards into EPA regulations that provide flexibility to use alternatives to mercury-containing industrial thermometers. This final rule will allow the use of such alternatives in certain field and laboratory applications previously impermissible as part of compliance with EPA regulations. EPA believes the older embedded ASTM standards unnecessarily impede the use of effective, comparable, and available alternatives to mercury-containing industrial thermometers. Due to mercury’s high toxicity, EPA seeks to reduce potential mercury exposures to humans and the environment by reducing the overall use of mercurycontaining products, including mercurycontaining industrial thermometers.
The FR notice may be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-18/pdf/2012-712.pdf
Influence of mercury exposure on blood pressure, resting heart rate and heart rate variability in French Polynesians: a cross-sectional study
Posted by gbertram in Research/Study, Resource on December 1st, 2011
This study shows mercury was associated with decreased HRV among French Polynesian teenagers while no significant association was observed with resting HR, BP, or PP among teenagers or adults.
The report can be accessed at http://www.ehjournal.net/content/10/1/99
USGS Mercury Factsheets
The following links will lead you to the USGS Mercury Pages. The USGS has posted information on a variety of topics, including mercury in coal and the enviroment.
USGS Survey Says Fallen Leaves and Rain Both Add Same Amount of Mercury to the Environment
Posted by gbertram in Research/Study on August 8th, 2011
Fallen autumn leaves transfer as much, if not more, hazardous mercury from the atmosphere to the environment as does precipitation each year, according to recent U.S. Geological Survey research.
2011-08.Research.Patterns & trends in Hg concentrations & Hg wet deposition in Great Lakes.USGS
2011-08.Research.Litterfall Hg dry deposition in eastern USA.USGS
FAQ: NSPS Emissions Guidelines and State Plan Process for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators (Draft)
This draft document was made available on July 18, 2011. Click here to access the document.
Mercury Cycling in an Urbanized Watershed: The Influence of Wind Distribution and Regional Subwatershed Geometry in Central Indiana, USA
Posted by gbertram in News, Research/Study, Resource on July 20th, 2011
Study of mercury deposition from an Indiana power plant. You may read the study here
Environmental Release of Mercury from Broken Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Posted by gbertram in News, Research/Study, Resource on July 7th, 2011
This article presents an original study on the releases of mercury (Hg) from broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) under various environmental conditions. Leaching of Hg in liquids was examined using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standard procedures Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure. Emission of Hg in vapor phase from broken CFLs was detected using an emission monitoring system. CFLs of eight different brands and four different wattages were tested. Results show that Hg contents in CFLs varied significantly with brand. Total amount of Hg contained in each CFL ranged from 0.1 to 3.6 mg, and only <4% of the Hg was TCLP-leachable. Hg concentrations in TCLP extracts of all the new CFLs tested were lower than the regulatory level of 0.2mg/L and thus the discarded CFLs do not fall into the hazardous waste category. Hg concentrations in Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure extracts were lower than those in the TCLP extracts. Hg vapor emission test revealed that the CFLs continuously release Hg vapor once broken and the release can last over 10 weeks. Total amount of Hg vapor released from a broken CFL can exceeds 1.0 mg, which can cause Hg level in a regular room to exceed the safe human exposure limit under poor ventilation conditions. Results provide useful implications in guiding the handling and treatment of CFLs during and after use.
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry and Standards of Performance for Portland Cement Plants
Posted by gbertram in Legislation on May 23rd, 2011
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is denying in part and granting in part the petitions to reconsider the final revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants emitted by the Portland Cement Industry and the New Source Performance Standards for Portland Cement Plants issued under sections 112(d) and 111(b) of the Clean Air Act, respectively. The EPA is also denying all requests that the EPA issue an administrative stay of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants and the New Source Performance Standards.
Draft FR Notice is accessible at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html
Proposed Rule: Elemental Mercury Used in Barometers, Manometers, Hygrometers/Psychrometers
Posted by gbertram in Legislation on May 6th, 2011
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-06/html/2011-11025.htm
B. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to designate as significant new uses the use of elemental mercury in barometers, manometers, and hygrometers/psychrometers. However, use of elemental mercury in these articles when they are in service as of the publication date of this proposed rule would not be covered as a significant new use under this proposed SNUR.
Also, use of mercury in portable battery-powered motor-aspirated psychrometers that contain fewer than seven grams of mercury is an ongoing use and therefore would not be covered by this SNUR. Due to EPA’s concern about use of mercury in products, the Agency may take other action to facilitate the evaluation or control of ongoing uses, as appropriate.
EPA to Hold Three Public Hearings on National Standard for Mercury Pollution from Power Plants
Posted by gbertram in Conference/Workshop/Meeting, Legislation on May 5th, 2011
Release date: 05/03/2011
Contact Information: Enesta Jones (News Media Only), jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three public hearings in May on the proposed mercury and air toxics standards. The new power plant mercury and air toxics standards would require many power plants to install widely available, proven pollution control technologies to cut harmful emissions of mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel and acid gases, while preventing as many as 17,000 premature deaths and 11,000 heart attacks a year.
WHAT: Public hearings on proposed mercury and air toxics standards
WHEN: May 24 and 26, 2011
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- Each hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 8 p.m. (local time)
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WHERE: May 24: Chicago, Ill.
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- Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro
799 W. Madison St.
Chicago, Ill. 60611May 24: Philadelphia, Pa.
Westin Philadelphia
99 S. 17th Street at Liberty Place
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103May 26: Atlanta, Ga.
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, Ga. 30303-8960
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The public may register to speak at a specific time at a hearing by contacting Pamela Garrett at 919-541-7966 or garrett.pamela@epa.gov or registering in person on the day of a hearing. EPA also will accept written comments on the proposed standards until July 5, 2011. EPA will finalize the rule by November 2011.
More information on the hearings and instructions for submitting written comments: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/powerplanttoxics/
