Mercury Workgroup

Gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) dry deposition measurements using surrogate surface passive samplers were collected in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma from August, 2009–August, 2011. Using data from a six site area network, a characterization of the magnitude and spatial extent of ambient mercury pollution in the arid Four Corners area was accomplished, which included the observation of a strong regional signature in the GOM dry deposition data set. GOM dry deposition rate estimates ranged from 0.4–1.0 ng/mh at the six Four Corners area monitoring sites, while the GOM dry deposition rate estimate at the eastern Oklahoma monitoring site was lower at 0.2 ng/mh. The highest GOM dry deposition estimates were recorded during the spring and summer while the lowest GOM dry deposition estimates were recorded during the fall and winter. During the second year of this study the highest annual GOM dry deposition estimate so far measured in the United States (U.S.) with smooth–edge surrogate surface passive samplers, 10 889 ng/m, was recorded at the Mesa Verde National Park site, a site at which the two– year cumulative GOM dry deposition estimate exceeded the mercury wet deposition estimate. GOM dry deposition estimates during the second year of the study were statistically significantly higher than the first year of the study at six of the seven sites. The data from this study provide a two–year baseline of GOM dry deposition data in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma immediately before the current implementation of new U.S. power plant and boiler mercury control regulations which will significantly reduce mercury emissions from those two sectors of local and regional anthropogenic mercury emission sources.

 Click following link to download copy of the report: APR-13-017

Attached are two recent reports by two different NGOs:

1. 1.       “Occupational Exposure to Elemental Mercury in Odontology/Dentistry” – This was produced under an EPA/OPPT grant by UMass Lowell, in collaboration with an NGO in Ecuador and a university in Mexico.
2. 2.       “Mercury in Dental Amalgam and Resin-Based Alternatives: A Comparative Health Risk Evaluation” – This was produced by Health Care Without Harm and others.

1. 2012-06 Report Hg_in_Dental_Amalgam Health Risk Evaluation HCWH
2. 2012-04 Report Reducing Hg in Dental Clinics UMassLowell

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report titled “Global Mercury Assessment 2013″.  The report summarizes global mercury emissions for 2010 (1960 metric tons).  The report may be accessed at http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/GMA%20Report/GlobalMercuryAssessment2013.pdf