Announcement

Hazardous Materials Awareness Week - February 10-16, 2013

Mercury Awareness and Education

Mercury (chemical symbol Hg) is also referred to as "elemental mercury", "quicksilver" and "liquid silver".  The most common routes of exposure are absorption through the skin or inhalation as a vapor.

Short term exposure harmful effects may include skin irritation upon contact and pneumonitis from inhalation of Mercury vapors, affecting the central nervous system and kidneys.  Long term effects include irritability, emotional instability, tremors, mental and memory disturbances, speech disorders, as well as inflammation and discoloration of the gums.  May cause toxic effects upon human reproduction.
 

Common Household Items Containing Mercury

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)	Thermometers	Thermostats
Computers (CPUs)	Circuit Boards	Fluorescent Light Bulbs

 County Recycling Programs for Mercury-Containing Items

Miami-Dade County Home Chemical and Waste Electronics Collection Program

Broward County Household Hazardous Waste Recycling 

Monroe County Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Disposal  

Resources

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mercury Quick Finder

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Mercury Program

Locate Recycling Centers for Items Containing Mercury

Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management Department
Home Chemical Collection Program

Broward County Waste and Recycling Services Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program 

Monroe County Public Works Solid Waste and Recycling Services 

Previous HazMat Awareness Week Themes 

2011 - Shelter-In-Place 

2010 - Safety in School Chemistry Labs 

2009 - Minimizing Mercury Releases and Proper Disposal of CFLs 

Please contact SoFlaLEPC Coordinator Manny Cela for more information (celam@sfrpc.com).

This page and all contents prepared by the SFRPC.
Last edited on January 20, 2012