Mercury Legacy Products

Introduction

The term "legacy product" refers to a mercury-added product that is no longer sold as a new product in commerce in the U.S., but may still be in use, may be resold as a used or antique product, or if not being used may be stored in homes or businesses. These products may be subject to waste disposal restrictions because of their mercury content. Some states also restrict the re-sale of these products.

This website provides information about the past and current uses of mercury-added legacy products, including photographs, types of situations in which the products were typically used, the location of mercury in the product, and information on their proper handling, removal, and disposal.

Please be advised that the products listed on this website do not include all legacy products that contain mercury and that may be still in use or in storage. The website was developed under a contract with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to assist that agency in implementing the Massachusetts Mercury Management Act; therefore, this initial set of products focuses on those that are affected by the Massachusetts law. Certain categories of products are not addressed because they are not regulated by this law. For example, this list does not include legacy products with mercury only in a mercury-containing lamp or button-cell battery (e.g., many electronic products). This list also does not include formulated mercury-added products (i.e., chemical products such as reagents and preservatives).

There may be mercury-added legacy products about which there is little, if any, available and reliable information that NEWMOA was able to find. NEWMOA is interested in updating the information presented in this website, and adding information about additional mercury-added legacy products. If you have any additional information or useful photographs for the products already covered on this website or documented information on mercury use in products that are not included, please contact or (617) 367-8558 x304 about how to submit the material.

For a list of products that contain mercury and that are still being manufactured and sold in the U.S. go to: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/imerc/notification/. This database is based on information submitted by companies that manufacture, sell, distribute, or import a mercury-added product that they wish to sell in the states of Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont. These firms must file a Mercury-added Product Notification Form through the Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) or directly with each individual state. Product Notification requirements are intended to inform consumers, recyclers, policy makers, and others about:

• products that contain intentionally-added mercury;
• the amount of mercury in a specific product; and
• the total amount of mercury in the specific products that were sold in the U.S. in a given year.

This mercury-added legacy products website was developed for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection under a 2008 contract. NEWMOA is grateful for the Department’s support of the project.

NEWMOA appreciates the information and advice, including personal accounts and photographs, provided by the following reviewers and contributors:

• Todd Crawford, New York State Dept. of Health (NYS DOH)
• Stephanie D'Agostino, New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services (NH DES)
• Todd Dresser, Cuoco & Cormier
• Ralph Erickson, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District
• John Gilkeson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
• Allen Gilliam, Arkansas Dept. of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
• Joel Hogue, Elemental Services & Consulting, Inc. (ESCO)
• John James, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP)
• Karen Knaebel, Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC)
• Michael Leal, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Paul Lockwood, New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services (NH DES)
• Beverly Migliore, Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management (RI DEM)
• Enid Mitnik, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP)
• Ann Pistell, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP)
• Bob Romano, Comus International
• Lori Segall, Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
• Mark Smith, Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
• Sarah Weinstein, Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
• John Welch, Dane County Public Works Engineering
• Laura White, Washington State Dept. of Health (WA DOH)