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Fact Sheet
May 2008
Mercury Honeywell Heat Generators
INTRODUCTION
This fact sheet was created to address issues with elemental mercury only. Mercury exists in three forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds.
Sometimes referred to as quicksilver, elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal and is liquid at room temperature. When dropped, elemental mercury breaks into smaller droplets, which can go through small cracks or become strongly attached to certain materials.
EPA is providing this fact sheet on Honeywell heat generators in an attempt to prevent mercury releases from occurring and to alert you to the potential health risks and liability issues related to a mercury release.
HONEYWELL HEAT GENERATORS
If a Honeywell heat generator is encountered in a home and needs to be removed, it should be removed in a manner that ensures no mercury is released from the unit. These units generally hold between 25 and 30 pounds of mercury.
First, remove the unit from the home intact, as seen in the photo below. Then place the unit into a large plastic bag, always keeping the unit in a vertical position. Take the unit to your local household hazardous waste facility or hire a professional environmental consulting company, both of which have trained personnel who can handle and dispose of mercury appropriately.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
Section 104 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9604 (also known as the Superfund law), gives EPA the legal authority to respond to mercury releases. The Superfund law also gives EPA the authority to identify the party responsible for the release, order those who improperly handle mercury to take appropriate response, and/or compel them to pay for a cleanup.
CERCLA also requires that any release amount above the quantity of one pound – one pound of mercury is approximately two tablespoons – must be reported to the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act requires that any release of mercury greater than one pound be reported to the local emergency planning committee, state emergency response commission, or local response personnel by the owner/operator.
HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS OF MERCURY
Mercury releases present a serious environmental and public health problem. Inhaling mercury vapors – which are colorless and odorless – can cause irreversible damage to the brain and kidneys.
The central nervous system, respiratory system, and developmental process can also be affected by mercury. Developing fetuses and children are the most sensitive to mercury exposure. Mercury exposure can be detected in the body through blood and urine tests.
Mercury can also enter the body through contact with the skin (absorption) or by swallowing (ingestion), although these two routes of exposure are considered less harmful than inhalation with respect to mercury.
If released in a business or home, mercury can pose a danger to people if not quickly cleaned up and removed. If not promptly and properly cleaned up and removed, it can easily spread by walking (tracking), sweeping or vacuuming, thereby presenting a potential health threat. Tracking throughout a building or into automobiles has spread mercury contamination in many instances in the past.
Health impacts will increase over time if the mercury is not properly removed. Mercury vapors are heavier than air and tend to remain near the floor or mercury source, but can get into the ventilation system and be spread throughout a house or business. Indoors, mercury vapors will accumulate in the air. People can absorb mercury into their bodies when they breathe the vapors. If mercury is released in a home, exposure to mercury vapors can be a concern, especially for young children and stay-at-home women who are or could become pregnant because of the amount of time spent in the home. Also, children five years of age and younger are considered to be particularly sensitive to the effects of mercury on the nervous system since their central nervous system is still developing. When pregnant women are exposed to mercury, the mercury can pass from the mother's body to the developing fetus; it can also be passed to a nursing infant through breast milk.
WHO TO CONTACT
If you have health questions related to mercury, please contact the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at (913) 551-1310, or the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit Poison Control Center at (800) 421-9916.
You should contact your physician to be tested for mercury if you or others have been exposed.
In case of an emergency, please contact EPA's emergency spill phone at (913) 281-0991.
If you know of a mercury release that has occurred that was not cleaned up properly, or if you have questions regarding the proper disposal of mercury, please call the number in your area.
EMERGENCY MERCURY SPILLS
| Iowa | 515-281-8694 |
| Kansas | 785-296-1679 |
| Missouri | 573-634-2436 |
| Nebraska | 402-326-0231 |
MERCURY DISPOSAL QUESTIONS
| Iowa | 515-281-8694 |
| Kansas | 785-296-1600 |
| Missouri | 573-634-2436 |
| Nebraska | 402-326-0231 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For additional information on mercury and mercury releases visit our web site at:
www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm
