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MercuryMercury is a commonly used element that poses a very real health risk to humans and animals.
Prevent mercury pollution by reducing your use of mercury containing products.
If you have to use products that contain mercury,
dispose of them properly to ensure that mercury doesn't end up in our environment.
Once in a lake or a river, bacteria will convert mercury to methylmercury. Tiny animals and plants (plankton) absorb methylmercury from the water and sediment. Minnow and juvenile fish eat the contaminated plankton. Large predatory fish eat the small fish and accumulate methylmercury in their tissue. Fish are eaten by humans and animals, causing methylmercury to accumulate in their tissues.
Mercury affects the human brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver. Mercury also affects fetal development in pregnant women, preventing the brain and nervous system from developing normally.
Wildlife is also at risk. Mercury in their diets can cause early death, weight loss, and problems with reproduction.
Items that contain mercury should be disposed of at an approved hazardous waste collection facility. Contact the Boulder County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at (303) 441-4800. Please, call the recycler prior to drop-off to find out the business hours, if the waste is accepted and if there is a fee.
RECYCLE COMPACT FLUORESCENT AND MERCURY THERMOSTATS
All Ace Hardware stores in Colorado are participating in a program to recycle compact fluorescent lights and mercury-containing thermostats.
Do you work in a dental office? More information is available about reducing mercury pollution from dental offices.
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The CDPHE website has a Hg prevention and reduction campaign to inform citizens, businesses and the medical industry about the serious health threat associated with exposures to Hg and to develop strategies to keep Hg out of our environment. Small mercury spill clean up http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/mercury/hgcleanup.pdf |
This page was updated
May 4, 2010
City of Longmont Public Works & Natural Resources
Pollution Prevention Program