Groups In Fever Over Mercury

DETROIT--Automobiles are one of the nation’s largest sources of toxic mercury emissions, according to two studies from environmental organizations.

Despite practical, inexpensive alternatives and industry commitments to phase out its use, mercury continues to be widely used in new automobiles, they contend. Mercury is highly toxic to humans and wildlife and is released when automobiles are scrapped, they say--calling on U.S. automakers to immediately eliminate the use of mercury in autos.

Both reports are available by contacting www.cleancarcampaign.org/mercury.html.

“Toxics in Vehicles: Mercury”--a collaboration of the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Great Lakes United, based in Buffalo, New York; and the University of Tennessee Center for Clean Products and Clean Technologies--documents how dangerous levels of mercury are released into the environment once cars leave the road and enter vehicle disposal and recycling processes, they say.

The bulk of mercury releases occur when contaminated steel, recovered from scrap automobiles, is melted in electric arc furnaces (EAFs). The study estimates that EAFs emit 15.6 metric tons of mercury each year, which is more than all manufacturing sources combined. Automobiles are likely the single largest source of mercury-contaminated scrap. The report finds that EAFs are not only the largest manufacturing source of mercury air emissions in the U.S., but the fourth largest overall-behind only coal-fired power plants(utility and commercial/industrial boilers), and municipal and medical waste incinerators.

“Our report clearly documents how the unnecessary use of mercury in automobiles is the primary culprit in contaminating the scrap steel recycling and recovery system,” said Charles Griffith, Auto Project Director at the Ecology Center. “These new findings show that the auto industry is one of the nation’s largest sources of mercury pollution.”

According to the second report--“Toxic by Design,” released by Environmental Defense--auto manufacturers have continued to use mercury in product design and purchasing decisions despite known concerns and the availability of practical, cost-effective alternatives. The report also finds that mercury is released by the manufacturers of automotive switches.

About 175 to 200 metric tons of mercury are in vehicles on the road today, primarily in mercury switches in hood and trunk lighting and anti-lock braking systems, the report says. One auto mercury switch contains nearly one gram of mercury, equivalent to the amount of mercury found in household fever thermometers, which are now being banned by many city and state governments due to increasing concern about the health risks resulting from the disposal of mercury containing products. While U.S. manufacturers continue to use mercury switches, international automakers such as Toyota, Volvo and BMW have completely eliminated mercury switch applications since 1993.