Mercury in New England
New England Sources of Mercury
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The Region has been working closely with the New England states to reduce air emissions of mercury from municipal solid waste incinerators and medical waste incinerators. EPA NE is also working to reduce the use and ensure the appropriate disposal of waste products containing mercury, such as fever thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs. The six New England Governors and five Eastern Canadian Premiers signed a Regional Mercury Action Plan in 1998, to provide a road map for mercury reduction activities in the Northeast. Mercury is a priority for the New England tribes. They have been conducting fish tissue testing, developing and conducting fish consumption surveys and issuing fish advisories.
EPA identified mercury as a concern in New England in the early 1990s. In 1989 EPA conducted an extensive fish tissue sampling study in New England. Lakes we had considered pristine were found to have fish with high levels of methyl mercury. Fish eating birds and mammals have also been found to have high levels of mercury for example, studies of loons in the Northeast have found high levels of mercury through the sampling of feathers and eggs. Research is underway to identify what types of behavioral and reproductive effects may result from these levels of mercury found in loons. EPA also continues to monitor fish in fresh water lakes and streams in New England and nationally.
EPA has developed standards for some of the largest sources of mercury emissions, such as Municipal Waste Combustors, that burn solid waste, and Medical Waste Incinerators. EPA is also working on regulations to control Hg emissions from power plants. Leading up to this effort, the EPA collected information on mercury in coal through sampling and stack testing on many power plants in the US. Based on this data collection effort we have developed emission factors for coal-fired power plants. EPA estimates that 48 tons of mercury are emitted each year from these sources nationwide, about 0.20 tons (400 pounds) are emitted in New England.