Home » Industries » Metal Industry
MERCURY USE: METALS INDUSTRY
Source: www.epa.gov
Topic: Metal Industry
Sort Desciption: Mercury can potentially be found in the metals industry in three areas: .... the metals industry and in a wide variety of other sectors (e.g., ...
Content Inside: wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwww 444 DRAFT WISCONSIN MERCURY SOURCEBOOK: METAL INDUSTRY MERCURY USE: METALS INDUSTRY Mercury can potentially be found in the metals industry in three areas: 1 A component in manufacturing equipment (especially measuring or controlling equipment, e.g., switches, gauges, thermometers) 2 An ingredient in chemicals or laboratory chemicals (e.g., phenylmercuric acetate) 3 A contaminant in raw materials (eg., caustic soda) www www www www www www www www www www www Keeping Mercury out of Wastewater then be deposited into lakes and streams, methylated, and ingested by fish, eventually reaching wildlife and humans. To prevent such occurrences, it is important to have effective spill response measures. Instruments containing mercury should be labeled and proper procedures should be followed when cleaning or refilling instruments that contain mercury. Instrument cleaning or refilling should take place in a well ventilated area, and, if possible, over a tray to contain any spills. There are a number of ways mercury can enter the wastewater stream of an industrial metal facility. When a mercury- containing product such as a thermometer is broken over a sink or improperly cleaned up after a spill, the mercury could get flushed down the drain. Mercury may also be present in a metal facility’s sewer pipes and traps from historical use of mercury. Once mercury enters a wastewater treatment plant, most of it concentrates in wastewater biosolids during treatment. Since most treatment plants dispose of generated solids by land spreading, mercury enters the terrestrial environment by this process. Some of this mercury spread on land may, over time, be volatilized to the atmosphere. This mercury may Table of Contents Keeping Mercury out of Wastewater .444 About this Handout .445 Why Should I Be Concerned About Mercury? .447 1 A Component in Equipment .449 Mercury Product Focus: Batteries .449 Mercury Product Focu ...
Related PDF Files: