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USEPA OFFICE OF RESERCH AND DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES ON MERCURY RESEARCH
Citation:
Randall*, P M., D W. Grosse*, AND D R. Bless*. USEPA OFFICE OF RESERCH AND DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES ON MERCURY RESEARCH. Presented at 7th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 6/27-7/2/04.
Description:
Two meet USEP A mercury research strategy goals, five mercury workshops were held in the U.S. The two overall objectives governing the proceedings of these workshops were:
.identifY state-of-tbe-science practices and techniques for reducing the use of mercury at its source (scientific, manufacturing and
industrial), mitigate and restore adversely impacted ecosystems and long term management of surplus, recycled mercury and
mercury-bearing waste and
determine what additional research activities need to be conducted to fulfill the goals of the ORD Mercury Research Strategy.
.In order for ORD to achieve these objectives, a series of five technology transfer workshops were conducted which focused on six primary
research areas: (1) Transport, Transformation and Fate, (2) Risk Management for Combustion Sources, (3) Risk Management for Non
combustion Sources, (4) Ecological Effects and Exposure, (5) Human Health Effects and Exposure, and (6)
Risk Communication.
The five workshops and conferences have yielded conclusions and recommendations. Certainly, it is important for decision makers to develop a consistent, safe and cost effective mercury retirement options for the safe disposal of recovered mercury and mercury waste products to control
mercury releases to the environment As long as there is a market demand for mercury, provided that there are no other safer substitutes or
alternatives, virgin mining activities may become obsolete given the quantity of mercury available in the secondary market (i.e., stockpile,
recycling etc.). More research needs to be done in determining the most appropriate and environmentally sound disposal practices; whether
elemental mercury should be stored in specially designed above ground facilities, stabilized for landfilIing or monofill placement Certainly,
more information needs to be provided on bioavailability in human ingestion, methylationldemetbylation rate determinations, alternatives to
mercury usage in the commodity market and international mercury flow. Industrial applications, such as cblorakali production and mining
practices, need to improve methods for controlling mercury releases and disposal options. Lastly, better, more predictive risk communication
tools need to be developed to protect the public ITom ingesting foods that can be contaminated by mercury releases. ORD plans on following-up
with some of these identified research needs by providing direct support to agency program offices and the international community by
conducting specific multimedia research projects and technology transfer.