Mercury is quite toxic to living organisms. Mercury can easily change forms and cycle in the environment from air to land to water and then back to air. Exposure to mercury occurs from breathing contaminated air, ingesting contaminated water and food, and having dental and medical treatments. Mercury is found in most National Priorities List sites.
Products That Contain Mercury - Prohibition on Sale of Electric Switches, Electric Relays, and Gas Valve Switches – HB 504
Prohibiting a specified marketer from knowingly selling or providing electric switches, electric relays, and gas valve switches that contain mercury to a consumer on or after October 1, 2018. Sections 6-905, 6-905.3 through 6-905.6 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
Lead and Mercury Wheel Weights – HB 66
Prohibiting certain persons from using, allowing to be used, or selling certain lead or mercury wheel weights. Section 6-501 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
Skin Cream Containing Mercury Warning
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) has issued a warning to consumers about certain skin creams that may contain mercury. One such product, labeled "Crema Aguamary," and purchased in Mexico, was brought into Maryland and is thought to be responsible for at least one case of mercury poisoning in the State.
Consumers who have face cream that they believe contains mercury should seal the jar in a plastic bag or leak-proof container and dispose of it in their household trash.
For more information on the warning, visit DHMH.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are an important tool in efforts to reduce energy use, which benefits air and water quality and addresses climate change.
CFLs have several advantages over incandescent light bulbs. They last 8-10 times longer, use about 75% less energy, and produce 90% less heat while delivering more light per Watt. For example, a 25Watt CFL provides about 1800 lumens, whereas 100Watt incandescent lamp provides 1750 lumens. Use of CFLs reduces electricity use and the amount of pollutants such as nitrogen, mercury, and carbon dioxide emitted from power plants.
CFL bulbs contain up to 5 milligrams of mercury, the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen, as compared to older home thermostats and mercury fever thermometers, which contain between 500 to 30,000 milligrams of mercury.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) urges consumers to use care when handling CFLs by screwing and unscrewing the bulb by the base. If a CFL bulb breaks, the amount of mercury released can evaporate into the air where it will likely remain at a level below safety standards set by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
CFL bulbs should be recycled after use, if at all possible. MDE strongly encourages consumers to take advantage of available local recycling options for used CFL bulbs. Some counties in Maryland have permanent sites for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection, including CFLs, while others have collection events on certain dates throughout the year. Information about programs in individual counties can be found in the County Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Chart and Fluorescent Lamp FAQs. Additionally, many companies also offer fluorescent light recycling. If recycling is not an option, a CFL bulb may be placed in the household trash.
Other Resources
Mercury-Added Products - Prohibition of Sale of Thermostats and Report
Mercury-Added Products - Prohibition of Sale of Thermostats and Report prohibits a specified marketer from selling or providing a thermostat containing mercury to a consumer.
Mercury Switch Removal From Vehicles Law
On May 19, 2009, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed House Bill 1263 – Mercury Switch Removal from Vehicles. The law requires motor vehicle manufacturers, individually or as a group, to develop and submit to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), by September 30, 2009, a mercury minimization plan that includes information on mercury switch removal from motor vehicles. The law allows vehicle manufacturers that already have processes and procedures in place that meet or exceed the requirements of Maryland’s law to use those processes and procedures in its mercury minimization plan submitted to MDE. The mercury minimization plan must include, at a minimum:
-
Information regarding the switch locations and methods for the safe removal of mercury switches from end-of-life vehicles;
-
Proposal for the safe storage, disposal, and recovery of mercury switches and assemblies;
-
Plan for implementing and financing the removal, collection, and recovery program; and
-
Information that establishes the financing of the program.
Other provisions of the law include:
- Requiring a vehicle recycler to remove mercury switches from end-of-life vehicle inventory and vehicles processed into the vehicles recycler’s inventory within a certain period of time;
- Providing that certain fees, fines, and penalties resulting from violations of the law be deposited in the State Recycling Trust Fund; and
- Requiring that MDE submit a report to the General Assembly annually.
Reports
Reports related to Maryland's Mercury Switch Removal from Vehicles Law and participation in the NVMSRP can be found on the Department's
Land Publications & Reports web page.
This law sunset on December 31, 2017
Other Resources
Related Topics
For more information, contact The Waste Diversion and Utilization Program by email or phone at 410-537-3314.
