Mercury News

November 2009. EPA released the National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue. The study shows concentrations of toxic chemicals in fish tissue from lakes and reservoirs in nearly all 50 U.S. states. For the first time, EPA is able to estimate the percentage of lakes and reservoirs nationwide that have fish containing potentially harmful levels of chemicals such as mercury and PCBs. Read the EPA news release.

October 2009. EPA released its Report to Congress on Mercury Compounds (PDF) (123 pp, 738K, About PDF). The report, required by Congress under section 4 of the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008 (MEBA), identifies sources of mercury compounds in the U.S. and reports quantities in imports, exports, and uses of these compounds in products and processes. The report also assesses the potential for key mercury compounds to be exported for regeneration into elemental mercury.

September 2009: EPA and the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) launch "Don't Mess with Mercury", a video for middle school students.

• Watch the video in English or Spanish
• Watch other videos about mercury
• See photos on Flickr of EPA emergency responders cleaning up mercury messes at a Nevada home and an Arizona high school

September 2009: EPA issued a Proposed Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) for Elemental Mercury Used in Flow Meters, Natural Gas Manometers, and Pyrometers. The Agency is requesting comment on its proposal to require 90 days notice prior to U.S. manufacture, import or processing of elemental mercury for use in flow meters, natural gas manometers, and pyrometers. The Agency will accept comments on its proposed rule on or before November 10, 2009.

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