January 25, 2002

Mercury — best known as the silver liquid found in thermometers — is a toxic compound that can cause damage to the central nervous system and induce other serious illnesses. Because of these dangers, regulatory authorities such as the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) have been joining with industries and businesses for decades to regulate the release of mercury into the environment, particularly the public water supply. For years, the MGH has been working with these authorities to reduce the amount of mercury that is inadvertently discharged into waste water by substituting products and disposing of mercury-containing materials as separate hazardous waste.

Trace mercury may be an unlisted ingredient in thousands of products and chemical reagents, several of which are used in MGH labs and clinical areas. The MWRA recently notified the MGH, and other institutions that use such products, that they must further reduce the amount of mercury found in waste water effective July 1. The new allowable discharge concentration has been reduced from 4 parts-per-billion to 1 part-per-billion.

The MGH has launched a new phase of its ongoing Mercury Containment Initiative to help eliminate the unintentional discharge of this toxic compound into the sewer system. This project, which primarily will be directed to MGH research areas, will aid in efforts to improve the environment and will continue the MGH tradition of being a good environmental citizen. The MGH Safety Office is implementing a multiphase strategy to reduce mercury discharge concentrations at the main campus and at CNY.

One aspect of the initiative will examine the chemicals and reagents in use at both locations to test for and identify the use of undocumented mercury-containing materials. MGHers can support this effort by providing information regarding material usage when requested. Alternative handling and disposal proposals will be developed following completion of this phase of the program.

For more information, contact Elisabeth Wilson of the MGH Safety Office at (617) 726-2425 or visit http://phsweb17/ref/u&e/mercweb.