How Is Mercury Released ?

An estimated 1,000 pounds of mercury are released into the environment each year by King County residents and businesses (estimates range from 550 – 1,900 pounds) according to "Mercury in King County " (Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, 2002).

Much of the mercury going into the environment is due to the improper disposal of products that contain mercury. These include:

Light switches in vehicle trunks and hoods
Medical equipment, like thermometers and blood pressure devices
Thermostats
Fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lights
Computers.

Other mercury releases in King County are from small, 'non-point' sources like crematoria, auto shredders, dental offices and transfer stations. The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County is taking steps to reduce mercury in products, to collect and recycle products containing mercury, and to reduce mercury emissions from small, non-point sources.

The Washington State Mercury Chemical Action Plan (Washington State Department of Ecology, 2003) describes the sources of mercury pollution in Washington State and outlines strategies for reducing this pollution.